Story of Hope: Cindy
June Advocate Impact Story
Written By: Cindy's Advocate Supervisor
Cindy Lacey has been a CASA advocate since June 2019. She was already working a case with two children, when her supervisor came across a new case that she thought would be perfect for Cindy. Knowing that this child needed an advocate with the time, energy, heart, and passion to put into this case, she recommended Cindy.
Melissa (13) had special needs, including not being able to walk or talk. Her mother was no longer willing or able to care for Melissa and that is how she came into CPS custody. The mother indicated that she wanted to relinquish her rights after moving out of state.
When Melissa came into care, there were not many records about what her medical needs were. She was also in a wheelchair that was at least 5 years old, and not meeting her needs. That was the first thing Cindy noticed and quickly began to work on to find a solution.
On a Thursday, Cindy, her CASA supervisor, and the caseworker all had a meeting via Zoom. During that meeting Cindy was provided information about “Project Mend”, a local organization that helps provide wheelchairs and other medical supplies to the community. Within 2 days, Cindy was able to secure a brand new wheelchair for Melissa, one that was upgraded to meet her needs, complete with a headrest that provided Melissa’s head much needed support. She then picked up the new wheelchair and drove it out to Kerrville for a porch drop-off. Cindy alone was responsible for making all the contacts and coordinating all of the logistics to get Melissa this much needed upgrade.
Cindy has been on this case less than a month, and has already made a huge medical impact for Melissa and has greatly improved her quality of life. I look forward to the other impacts she will be able to make on this case moving forward.
Help us provide more Advocates like Cindy who are willing to go above and beyond even in the midst of crisis to provide a voice for children in foster care.
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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.
Sol Arena Russo
