Story of Hope: Cynthia
July Advocate Impact Story
Written By: Cynthia's Advocate Supervisor
While Cynthia was serving in the military, she was introduced to CASA, and that initial encounter made a lasting impression on her. She was certain she would become a CASA advocate one day. So it was no surprise that earlier this year, on February 14, she was sworn-in as a CASA advocate and shortly after, was assigned to her first CASA case.
Cynthia immediately signed onto the case and introduced herself to all parties involved, and also participated in family group conferences. The two children, Bruce, 6 months old, and Dakota, 3 years old, were living in a shelter with their mother after having just been returned to her custody at their court hearing. Although, the mother had been permitted to have the children returned to her, the case remained open and the state still had temporary custody of the children.
When it came time to reach out to the mother and children, Cynthia obtained the proper clearance through the shelter where they were staying. At this time, the mother shared that she was unable to get baby formula, and that she was giving Bruce regular milk. Cynthia assisted the mother in making a WIC appointment and was diligent in her follow-up, calling and texting the mother to remind her of this appointment, but the mother did not keep the appointment.
Cynthia began to notice a pattern of missed appointments like this. The mother scheduled, then rescheduled, and then missed the children’s appointments, alongside many of the services outlined in her service plan. The mother kept expressing that she was too busy helping a friend, or that she forgot, or was too tired to attend her appointments. This was a red flag for Cynthia, so she expressed her concern to the CPS caseworker. She soon after followed up with the shelter, and found out that the mother was in violation of curfews, was not meeting with the shelter’s case manager, not attending required programs, and had not been informing the caseworker of the children’s whereabouts. Doing her due diligence, Cynthia voiced concerns that the placement may need to change.
In the midst of this new development, the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread, but that didn’t stop Cynthia from serving these children. She ordered educational toys through Amazon to help engage the children during quarantine, and continued to track the mother’s progress. The mother still wasn’t participating in services, and jeopardized the shelter placement by testing positive for drug use. Cynthia, again, voiced her concerns, this time to the caseworker and the children’s ad litem. An emergency hearing was held in April, wherein the kids were removed from their mother and placed with relatives. The kids are currently thriving in that placement.
During this time, Cynthia has continued to serve Bruce and Dakota with supplies through porch drop-offs, helped locate a much needed crib for Bruce, and often chatted by video with the children. She has been exemplary on this case, and is much appreciated for all her hard work.
Help us provide more Advocates like Cynthia who are willing to go above and beyond even in the midst of crisis to provide a voice for children in foster care.
Fund Their Hope
In December 2024, CPS received a referral reporting that Demitri and Maria were living under a bridge along with their three children, Santiago, Mary, and Jose. The Department sought removal of the siblings due to numerous concerns including substance use by all members of the family unit, unsanitary living conditions, malnourishment, and other safety risks. It was later discovered that the children had a significant gap in their education and medical care, and that the two oldest children had juvenile justice involvement. The parents also had an extensive history with CPS. A few months after removal, CASA Advocates, Alejandro Trevino and Lauren Wise, were appointed to the case, quickly becoming a consistent and trusted presence in the lives of the Santiago (16), Mary (15), and Jose (13). During their first meeting, the siblings expressed a deep desire to stay together and eventually reunite with their parents, emphasizing that they had always been together as a family. Unfortunately, shortly after that initial encounter, Santiago and Mary were placed in a Residential Treatment Center (RTC) located hours away from Jose. Multiple placement changes followed, creating ongoing instability that further complicated their healing process. From the beginning, the CASA Advocates have worked tirelessly to ensure that the children’s services remain uninterrupted despite the frequent transitions. They continue to collaborate with CPS, the children’s attorney ad litem, and various placements to ensure the siblings’ voices are heard and their best interests prioritized. Alejandro and Lauren attend every staffing, court hearing, service plan meeting, and Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE) meeting while always advocating for stability, connection, and permanency. Understanding the critical importance of sibling relationships, the advocates made it their mission to preserve the children’s bond. They arranged for regular sibling contact, both virtually and in-person, overcoming logistical challenges caused by distance and restrictive placement protocols. At one point, Alejandro and Lauren personally facilitated a sibling visit, traveling a total of 638 miles to ensure the children could spend the time together. It was a powerful act of care, giving the siblings a moment of normalcy and joy in an otherwise turbulent time. For nearly the entirety of the case, the children have been separated from one another and far from their hometown. In the face of prolonged separation, instability, and emotional distress, Alejandro and Lauren’s efforts have played a key role in preserving the siblings’ emotional connection and sense of family. Because of their unwavering commitment, the siblings are now living in the same city again and are showing improvement in their academics and health. While the future remains uncertain and family reunification is still unclear, the advocates continue to hold hope that the siblings can at least be reunited with one another and return to San Antonio. This story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of tremendous challenges, the love between siblings and the dedication of caring advocates can foster hope, healing, and the promise of a brighter future.
Deborah Hom
