April Advocate Spotlight

Stephanie Shokrian

Advocate: Joseph Zlotkowski

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

“I have been a Child Advocate since January of 2023. I had the best trainers in my Advocate Training, and connected with inspiring individuals who encouraged me to be a light for foster youth in our community. I was assigned my first CASA case, which to my surprise, was a set of twin newborn babies and my purpose in these beautiful children’s lives became crystal clear. My goal was to keep the two twins together, forever and always, as they navigated the foster system, and to help them find their forever home so they could settle their hearts and thrive.”


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

“Building a relationship with twin babies was a big challenge that I knew would be much different than advocating for an older child or teen. I wondered how I would be able to advocate for what the babies needed when they could not speak and were unable to tell me what their wishes were, what their hopes and dreams were, and anything that was on their heart. I knew that as babies, they would yearn for a mother’s heartbeat, a calm and soothing voice, a playful spirit, a safe and cozy home. I worked hard to learn everything I could about the babies, where they came from, what their emotional and medical needs were, and I made it a top priority to earn their trust and the trust of their current foster placement caregivers. Trust and respect are never just given, especially in the face of trauma and neglect, so I felt very rewarded by earning these elements of trust and respect within my CASA children's case. By working closely with caseworkers, attorneys, the Judge, family members, the foster placement, and with the incredible guidance and support of my Advocate Supervisor, Mackenzie Olearnick, I was able to be successful in being a strong voice and nurturing force in the babies first year of life. While the goal most always is reunification, in this particular case, the babies found their forever home and forever family with their foster to adopt family. Our Judge has officially granted adoption rights to the foster family and we will all rejoice and celebrate with the babies on the official Adoption Day in the coming weeks! My goals of keeping the babies together and advocating to secure them a forever home always stayed in the forefront and now they are a reality! The children’s foster to adopt family is one of the most loving, kind, healthy, and nurturing families I have ever met and I am so happy for all involved!”



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

“Someone told me once to “Leave it all at the door” and “wear a costume or mask” when you deal with grief, loss, or heartache. After working with the babies and after experiencing so many of my own difficult and challenging moments in my life, I have to disagree. I say come as you are and use your own experiences as a guiding light. Be vulnerable, show genuine and sincere empathy, and use the gifts and experiences you have gained in life to be the best Advocate you can for the children in our community that need it the most. Be exactly who you are, know that it will be hard sometimes, but that you were called to help for a reason and you’re really, really great at it! Be playful, be dependable, and always try to do more than you were expected to do. Reach out to your Supervisor for help and advice along the way and take advantage of all the amazing Resources CASA Leadership has sourced for us as Advocates!! From Christmas gifting opportunities to numerous events & activities, the resources are endless! I have loved being a CASA Advocate and I plan to continue to help as many children as I can for as long as possible.”

Story of Hope: Sylvia Reyna

By bfines • 11 Apr, 2024
In the heart of San Antonio, a story of resilience and hope unfolds, illustrating the profound impact of a CASA advocate on the lives of children navigating the complexities of the child protective services system. This story centers on two siblings, a brother (14) and a sister (16), living in circumstances no child should ever face. They endured years of neglect and physical abuse while under the care of their elderly grandparents and delinquent parents, their young lives clouded by despair, uncertainty, and unspeakable trauma—including their mother's death and father's incarceration when CPS assumed custody. Enter CASA, a beacon of hope and advocacy in a tumultuous time as they navigated life in unfamiliar home and school surroundings, countless rules and regulations, investigative personnel, doctors, psychiatrists, counselors, social workers, lawyers, and court appearances. A CASA volunteer was appointed to the siblings' case, marking the beginning of a transformative journey for the children and everyone involved in their path to healing and stability. The children's CASA advocate profoundly understood that trust is the cornerstone of recovery for children. As such, the advocate approached the siblings gently and consistently, offering them a sense of safety and predictability they had long been missing. Through regular visits, attentive listening, and the simple act of being there, she slowly but surely began rebuilding the trust their previous experiences had shattered. One of the advocate's primary goals was to ensure that the siblings were placed in a stable, nurturing home environment where they could thrive. The advocate worked tirelessly to advocate for their placement in a home that met their physical needs and provided a loving, supportive atmosphere. The advocate's strategic interventions and persistent advocacy in court were instrumental in their kinship placement with their uncle. He served as a lifeline and accepted the challenge of helping raise two teenagers when he had already raised three of his children. The home situation, however, was not without its share of difficulties. It was clear that the sister's prolonged childhood trauma proved to be a challenge. Upon her 18th birthday, she decided to leave the state's care and, subsequently, her uncle's home, determined to make it independently without support services. Within two and a half months, the sister requested extended care services from the state because she had no educational skills or means of support and had lost custody of her baby due to false reports made by the grandparents. She was lost and needed help. After a long and arduous journey to find housing for the sister, the CASA advocate rallied with the children's ad litem to secure a spot for her at Seton Home. She has since reunified with her two-year-old daughter, and both are thriving. School can be a sanctuary for children facing turmoil at home, offering structure, normalcy, and the opportunity for achievement. Unfortunately, the children's educational career was often interrupted or even derailed because of their involved trauma, which led to numerous absences, missed credits, and a general aversion to school. The CASA advocate collaborated closely with educators and school counselors to ensure the siblings received the needed academic and emotional support. This included individualized education plans to address learning gaps, counseling services to help them process their experiences, and extracurricular activities to foster their talents and interests. Through these efforts, the young man is thriving in a new school, and his sister is on her way to completing her GED. The dramatic change in their approach to schooling will ensure a future filled with possibilities. Perhaps the most profound role of the CASA advocate was that of an unwavering source of support—a shoulder to lean on during life's inevitable ups and downs. Whether celebrating academic achievements, offering encouragement through setbacks, or simply being a compassionate listener, the advocate was a constant presence in the siblings' lives, embodying the essence of hope and resilience. The journey of these siblings, the brother now 16 and the sister now 19, is a testament to the transformative power of strategic, compassionate advocacy. As they continue to heal and grow, their story serves as a beacon of hope for countless other children navigating childhood trauma. It underscores the critical importance of CASA volunteers and the indelible impact they can have on the lives of vulnerable children. In a world where despair can easily overshadow hope, these siblings' stories remind us of the incredible resilience of the human spirit and the power of dedicated individuals to ignite change. These children were given a chance at a better life and became a symbol of hope and perseverance for others in similar situations. As I share this story, please join me in celebrating the courage of these remarkable siblings and the CASA program's unwavering mission to ensure every child can thrive in a safe, loving, and supportive environment. This story is a call to action, a reminder of the difference one person can make in a child's life, and an invitation to become a part of this life-changing journey.  I am proud of my two CASA children—theirs is a story of hope. Sylvia R. Reyna, Ph.D.

Story of Hope: Brenna Albracht

By bfines • 19 Mar, 2024
Brenna Albracht has been a CASA advocate since October of 2020. She was originally signed onto a case in 2021 involving a 7-year-old boy named Ben. Ben and his 2 siblings Amy and Amber had been removed in a CPS legal case since 2018. During that case, Amy and Amber were placed with relatives who declined to take Ben. In 2020 the parents’ rights were modified and the Department was named the Permanent managing conservator of Ben. The relatives who were caring for Amy and Amber were named the Permanent managing conservator of them and their case was closed. Again, the relatives declined to become the managing conservators of Ben and so he remained a ward of the State. After the Department was named the permanent managing conservator, Ben was placed in a foster home out of town where he has remained there for the past 2 and a half years. During the time Ben has been in the foster home, the biological parent’s rights were eventually terminated, and Ben became a candidate for adoption in early 2022. Unfortunately, from 2022 to now, Ben has been in the same foster home waiting for their forever home. He has had no contact with his sisters, Amy and Amber. Ben’s current foster home is meeting his needs however they have made it clear they do not intend to adopt Ben. Ben does well in the home, does not cause a lot of problems, and does well in school. His primary case worker was based in San Antonio and was only required to see him in person once a quarter. It would have been easy for him to disappear into the system and remain there until he aged out of care. During this entire time, Brenna was there for Ben, continuing to advocate for him to make sure he did not fall through the cracks. She was that constant presence to make sure the CPS worker did not forget about Ben. Brenna later found herself moving out of town and it happened that she was relocating to the same area as Ben. She agreed to continue to be his advocate with the hopes of finding him permanency. In 2023, Amy and Amber were removed from their relatives for being physically abused by them. The biological mother was given a second opportunity to make positive behavior changes and as of right now Amy and Amber have been placed with their mom with the expectation that they will be permanently reunified soon. A CASA was also assigned to Amy and Amber’s case. What is happening with Amy and Amber and their mom would normally have no impact on Ben. However, because Brenna remained on the case and CASA was involved with Amy and Amber, we made the connection between the siblings and were able to start advocating for Ben’s possible return to his family. If Brenna had not remained on Ben’s case, the CPS adoption worker for Ben would most likely have never known that his biological mother could become eligible to be his parent again. There is now a decent chance that Ben’s in foster care may be coming to an end with them not only being reunited with his mom but Amy and Amber as well. This is a reminder to all advocates that you do not have to make a big bold gesture to have a monumental impact on the life of a child, constancy is sometimes all it takes.
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