September Advocate Spotlight

Ida Sudolcan

Advocate: Joseph Zlotkowski

1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?

I'm not sure what my official date is but I know it's been about 5 years now. What motivated me to be a CASA is the desire to make a difference in our children who are caught in the Foster Care system. My parents were always "adopting" families from our church and our home was always filled with people that did not have extended family support. We grew up giving to others even when we didn't have enough to give. God always blessed us above and beyond what we blessed others with. I always thought maybe someday I could become a foster parent but that never materialized so when I heard about CASA I jumped at the opportunity.


2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an advocate?

Developing relationships with the children and their foster families and their biological families. Two of my cases have resulted in adoption of sibling groups. It was so rewarding to see my first case of five brothers and sisters able to be adopted into a single home. I have kept in contact with the family and enjoy seeing them thrive.


3. If you could offer some words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?

Do your best and don't be discouraged with things look hopeless. Our job is to advocate for our kids. Never take “No” for an answer. Develop a positive relationship with all parties, especially the CPS case worker. Don't be afraid to express your concerns and your doubts about decisions being made for your kids. A CASA advocate is a crucial part of the case, we have to be the eyes and ears for our kids, think outside the box sometimes - push for what you know is right. You'll never regret being an advocate although sometimes it's overwhelming, we are the key to making a difference in a child's life.


By bfines April 25, 2025
A Message from Child Advocates San Antonio on National CASA/GAL Funding Termination On April 24, 2025, the National CASA/GAL Association announced that its federal funding through the U.S. Department of Justice has been terminated. As a result, National CASA is suspending subaward disbursements, training programs, and technical assistance. The organization is actively appealing the decision and assessing what services it can continue to provide during this transition. Info from National CASA can be found here. We understand that this announcement may raise concerns in the community, and we want to provide reassurance and clarity regarding how this news affects Child Advocates San Antonio. First and foremost: There is no impact to our organization or our services. We are fully operational and remain committed to serving the children and families in our community with the same excellence, integrity, compassion, and commitment we have always shown. Here are key facts we want our supporters and the public to know: Our funding remains secure. Child Advocates San Antonio has a diverse and stable funding base that includes a healthy mix of public and private funding. No one funding stream exceeds 50% of our budget. You can access our recent financials HERE. Our stability comes from strong state support and our dedicated Bexar County community, which keeps Child Advocates San Antonio resilient and focused on serving children. We do not receive subawards from National CASA. The suspension of subaward disbursements has no bearing on our funding or ability to operate. Our training programs continue without interruption. Our comprehensive and high-quality Advocate training programs are fully intact. We do not require technical assistance from National CASA. Our team is experienced, well-resourced, and prepared to continue all programming. No cuts, no hiring freezes, no changes to our operations. We remain fully staffed and actively engaged in our mission to advocate for children in foster care. Our commitment to advocating for children in foster care is unwavering, and our services continue as usual. We want to be clear: Child Advocates San Antonio is strong, stable, and here to stay. CASA programs in Texas are strong, independent, and fully committed to children in foster care. While we’re aware of the situation with National CASA/GAL, it doesn’t impact the critical advocacy happening here. Our commitment is clear: we will stand with the children we serve—until they are safe, their voices are heard, and their futures are secure. Our focus, as always, is on advocating for the best interests of children and ensuring they have a voice in court. Public support at all levels, including individuals, ensures we remain strong, regardless of national developments. No matter what, our mission stays the same – every child deserves to be safe, cared for, and have their voice heard. CASA’s mission is as important as ever— children in foster care need advocates who will stand by them. Start your Advocate Journey today!
By bfines April 11, 2025
Brittany Coppage
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