January Advocate Spotlight

Nanette Hall

Advocate: Joseph Zlotkowski

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

I've been an advocate for 2 years. I first knew I wanted to be an advocate when I was working in a school district and a dear friend of mine retired and became a CASA. Our school district had so many foster kids and I saw first-hand how easily they were overlooked and missed out on opportunities. Listening to my friend talk about the importance of being an advocate gave me the desire to volunteer once I retired.


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

The most rewarding aspect of being an advocate is seeing my kids' eyes light up when they succeed at something or when they see they are seen by others. So often they can feel invisible and they light up when they are noticed. These small moments begin to add up so the kids begin to build greater confidence in themselves.


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

The greatest traits I continue to learn being an advocate is patience and understanding. Patience with myself and patience with the kids. I like to get things done and move things along. In this process, I am learning to slow myself down and understand things can take longer and the kids aren't always on top of things the way we might like them to be. I've continued to try different approaches to get the kids to take action, understanding the challenges they have faced in their lives that give them different priorities. Letting go of my expectations and working within the kids' needs and desires is helpful for me as I improve my patience.

By bfines August 14, 2025
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.
By bfines August 14, 2025
Joshua Antwon Merrills
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