December Advocate Spotlight

Leti Diaz

Advocate: Joseph Zlotkowski

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

I have been an advocate for over a year and a half. I first heard about CASA back in the early ‘90s and knew a woman at work who was a CASA advocate. I knew then I wanted to be a CASA Advocate one day, but for me working, children, caring for an elderly parent, etc. kept me from doing this until I retired. My daughter wanted to become a CASA Advocate and wanted me to sign up with her, and this is how it all started.


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

Being an advocate is rewarding in many ways. First, you hope your work on your case has you being a part of the solution and not part of the problem regardless of which agency/institution you are working with. Watching the progress and development of the children during this process is very inspirational, that in spite of all the obstacles presented to these children, they are resilient and thrive in a safe, loving environment. Being an advocate brings personal growth in humanity. These children don’t know you, don’t know if they can trust you, don’t know if you really care for them. But in time, they know they can count on you, that they know you love them, and that they can trust you to come back to be with them.


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

Be yourself, know that you are making a difference in the children’s lives and in the caregiver’s life, even if they don’t realize or acknowledge it at times. Trust your instinct in how to handle situations, you will gain information and knowledge about the children when you pick them up and spend time with them. Even though there might be some setbacks with the whole situation with the children, be patient and non-judgmental of the different agencies/institutions that are involved in the whole process, yet do speak up as necessary. Be patient with the caregivers as they have a lot on their plate and may not put the same sense of urgency on certain things as you would, but you know they still have the children’s best interest at the forefront.

Story of Hope: Staff Advocate JoAnn

By bfines • October 15, 2025
In September 2024, the department first became involved with a family of five following allegations of substance abuse and medical neglect concerning the mother. Child Protective Investigations (CPI) initially sought to keep the family together by implementing a safety plan with fictive kin—a family the mother and children had met during their stay at Haven for Hope. The hope was that this new placement would provide stability for the children while keeping them safely with someone familiar. For a few weeks, it seemed to be working. But on October 29, 2024, the mother told the fictive kin she was going to retrieve her remaining belongings from Haven for Hope—and never returned. From November 2024 through February 2025, CPS continued its efforts to locate her while supporting the kinship placement and meeting the children’s needs. In January 2025, the kinship placement informed the department that she could no longer care for the youngest child, Ava, due to her severe behavioral needs. Faced with these challenges, the department made the difficult decision to file for removal to provide more comprehensive support for the children and the kinship caregivers. Ava was quickly placed in a foster home in February 2025, while her three brothers remained with fictive kin. Around this time, CASA Staff Advocate JoAnn Herring was assigned to the case. By April 2025, safety concerns prompted the immediate removal of the boys. They were placed in an emergency shelter while the department and JoAnn worked tirelessly to explore placing them with their sister in her foster home. Caring for four children is a big ask, especially for new foster parents, but with support from JoAnn and the department, the foster family rose to the challenge. By May 2025, all four siblings were finally reunited under one roof—a first major victory for this family. Even with the siblings together, challenges remained. The children had significant medical and educational needs. Michael, who had experienced medical neglect while in his mother’s care, was diagnosed with Stage 5 chronic kidney disease, requiring frequent doctor visits, hospital stays, and surgery. During these times, JoAnn visited the hospital regularly, offering support and encouragement to both Michael and his foster parents. JoAnn also worked closely with the department and foster family to ensure the other children—Ava, Mateo, and Leo—received the therapeutic and educational support they needed. Through Collaborative Family Engagement meetings, the team created a comprehensive plan addressing the children’s medical, educational, and therapeutic needs, with the goal of preventing placement disruption and ensuring the foster parents felt supported. Today, all four children are enrolled in school with 504 plans in place, and Michael has access to wrap-around medical services—another major triumph. The foster parents now feel confident in their ability to meet the children’s needs, and if the parents remain disengaged, the case may ultimately move toward termination. While that possibility is heartbreaking, the family has a permanent, loving home ready to care for them. Michael, though still facing significant medical challenges, has a strong team advocating for him every step of the way. This story is still unfolding, but it highlights the power of teamwork, advocacy, and dedication in helping children find stability, care, and hope. It’s a reminder of what can be achieved when community, department staff, and CASA advocates go above and beyond to support children and families in need.

October Advocate Spotlight

By bfines • October 15, 2025
Sol Arena Russo
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