Story of Hope: Ebony
November Advocate Impact Story
Advocate Natalie Mohler was assigned to Ebony in November of 2018 and stayed on as her advocate through October of 2020. Natalie was a constant throughout the many changes Ebony had in her life. Ebony came into the care of CPS when her father asked CPS for help dealing with Ebony’s erratic behaviors. It was discovered during this case that Ebony’s father contributed to many of Ebony’s unstable behaviors. The advocate maintained contact with all parties (father, caregivers/case managers) and reviewed documents throughout the CPS case. She coordinated with the parties on services and findings and exceeded the expectations of a CASA advocate throughout her case.
Natalie noted discrepancies in the CPS file and advocated for a review of the child’s paperwork to ensure proper placement. Some previous paperwork stated that Ebony was autistic, but this diagnosis had been ruled out by medical professionals in the past. This case review led to a closer and less restrictive placement. Natalie shined in the area of medical advocacy- she consistently communicated important information about medical follow-up appointments related to asthma and pre-existing conditions with the ad litem attorney for child, CPS and the father’s attorney. All of her findings were reported and considered during the court hearing. She made contact with former daycare teachers and maternal grandparents to gain a full picture of the family and life before CPS became involved with this family. Natalie demonstrated during a difficult case that she is very intuitive and handles conflict well. She remained professional even when things became tense. She experienced barriers and challenges but remained consistent in her goal; advocating for the best interest of the child.
During this case, Ebony was placed in eight placements and had five different caseworkers. Natalie was able to provide information to provide continuity for Ebony, despite all of the changes. Natalie was ESSENTIAL and a constant on this case that kept the caseworkers apprised of Ebony’s needs and the history of her case. She made recommendations that were helpful to the caseworkers and contributed to the successful outcome of this case. She testified about her firsthand knowledge of the case, based on her direct observations of Ebony and her father. Understandably, she developed a great bond with the Ebony and earned the respect of all parties. I am proud to say that Ebony now lives in her forever home and she has been adopted. She is thriving and her behaviors have stabilized now that she has normalcy, a consistent routine and permanency.
Courtney Turner, Advocate Supervisor
At CASA, our goal is to serve 100% of the children and families in need experiencing foster care and strong community partnerships help make that possible.
In March 2025, Child Protective Services removed four young children, just 7, 4, 2, and 3 months old, from their mother’s care. This difficult step followed ongoing concerns about neglect, largely connected to the mother’s struggle with substance use, even during her most recent pregnancy. Although CPS offered support through Family Based Safety Services, the mother was unable to engage in the help provided. The children’s father was also unable to support them due to his own substance abuse and his incarceration in Bexar County Jail. Before removal, the children’s basic medical and educational needs were going unmet. They had been moved repeatedly between their mother and other relatives, leaving them without the stability, routine, and nurturing supervision every child deserves. When CASA Staff Advocate, JoAnn Herring, was assigned the case in April 2025, she immediately reached out to both kinship caregivers to understand the children’s needs and how to best support the families stepping in to care for them. JoAnn quickly learned that the paternal grandmother, who lovingly took in some of the children, was struggling financially and facing barriers due to limited English proficiency. To ensure she wasn’t facing these challenges alone, JoAnn submitted a CFE (Collaborative Family Engagement) referral and personally provided translation support so the grandmother could access services with dignity and understanding. Throughout the case, JoAnn has witnessed moments where cultural sensitivity was lacking, and personal biases influenced important decisions; often at the expense of what was best for the children. Despite these obstacles, she continues to advocate steadfastly and compassionately for the children to remain with the kinship caregivers who have opened their homes and hearts to provide safety, consistency, and love. Although the case is not yet over, Joann’s story demonstrates that CASA’s advocacy reaches beyond the children themselves, strengthening the village of care and support surrounding them, because CASA wants children to be safe, to thrive, and to have their overall well-being protected.
