May Advocate Spotlight
Monique Thibodeaux
1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?
I’ve been an advocate since June 2019. I had moved to San Antonio the previous year and was looking for ways to volunteer and get involved in the community. I was interested in working one on one with kids and was hoping to learn something new in the process. I didn't know anything about CASA until I started seeing the banners around town but that got me to attend one of the info sessions. It’s been a wonderful experience getting to know my two CASA kids and I’ve learned so much about child advocacy and the foster care system as well.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate?
The most rewarding aspect for me was the times I was being able to be there for my kids when their needs would have gone unmet without a CASA. This happened recently during the holidays when one of my kids, a young teen, was in crisis but couldn’t reach her caseworker or family members. She called me daily during that time and I could tell that having my support made that period a little easier for her.
3. If you could offer some words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?
There is a lot to learn but the professionals I’ve interacted with have been very understanding of the CASA’s role and very helpful. Ask lots of questions. Your CASA supervisor will be there with you every step of the way to support you.
Also, be patient with the court case. I’ve been on the same case since being sworn in 18 months ago and it has had lots of ups and downs. There were times when I was concerned about the direction things appeared to be heading. Focus on advocating for the children’s needs and being available for them. Just being there through a difficult period of their lives will mean a lot.
Brenna Albracht began her journey as a CASA advocate in October 2020. In the fall of 2021, she signed onto her second case—a case that would change both her life and the life of a young boy named Anton. Anton and his two siblings had been involved in a long CPS legal case that began in September 2018 and concluded in June 2020. His siblings were placed in the conservatorship of their paternal grandparents, while their parents retained possessory rights. However, the grandparents did not want Anton. His parents’ rights were ultimately terminated in the hope that the Department could find him a forever home. Anton was sent to a foster home in Houston, Texas. By 2020, Anton had lost nearly everything—his mom, his dad, his siblings, his grandparents, and his hometown. Initially, Brenna had planned to resign from CASA after completing her first case, as she was relocating to Houston for school. But when she learned about Anton and that he was in Houston, she made a decision that would change his life: she stayed with CASA and signed onto his case. For the next four years, Anton remained in that same foster home. While his basic needs were met, the foster family was not interested in adopting him. Brenna, however, never wavered. She visited Anton every month, checked in with his therapists to ensure he could process his trauma, connected with his teachers to support his education, and persistently reminded CPS that this little boy needed a forever home. She stayed in close contact with his attorney and advocated for him in court. From 2021 to 2025, Brenna made sure Anton was never forgotten. In 2023, Anton’s siblings re-entered care due to neglect and abuse by their grandparents. CPS offered his parents a second chance to make positive changes—and this time, Mom successfully reunited with her daughters. Seeing this, Brenna recognized an opportunity for Anton: not only could he find a forever home, but he could also be reunited with his family. Through Brenna’s tireless advocacy, Anton was finally able to return to his hometown of San Antonio in 2024 and, several months later, was placed back with his mom and sisters. In June 2025, CPS petitioned the court to reinstate his mother’s parental rights, and Anton was finally a whole family again. Because of Brenna’s dedication, Anton got back his mom, his sisters, and his hometown—a true testament to the power of consistent advocacy.
Joshua Antwon Merrills
