Story of Hope: Emily Cross Barnet

Emily Cross Barnet has been an advocate for 8 months. She was assigned to her case in December of 2022. She quickly started to build a bond with her 12 year old youth, James. He was at a shelter when she first made contact. As we know, shelters have a limited amount of time a youth can be placed there before they have to be moved.


James started mentioning his siblings and how he wanted to reside with them. Emily reached out and made contact with his adult brother. He stated that he was very interested and would do anything to have his brother placed with him. Emily brought this to the attention of the caseworker who stated it was her understanding he could not be considered due to his age. He was only 20 years old.


After speaking with her Advocate Supervisor it became clear to her that there was a chance a home study could move forward. She reached out to a Kinship Program Specialist for clarification. They confirmed that he could be considered for placement but could not become licensed as a foster home or adopt until he was 21 years of age.  Emily spoke with the caseworker and the process was initiated. James was placed with his brother a month later. She has been a great support for the family, ensuring that her CASA child had a bed, clothing and other necessities by reaching out to community partners and securing those items. Now that the caregiver is 21 years of age the licensing process is being finalized.


Emily has done a fantastic job voicing to the court and to the attorney ad litem what James wants and what his needs are. She ensures that his educational, medical and emotional needs are met. She spent time taking him out on several outings during the summer playing basketball and going on walks to ensure he kept busy. 

Story of Hope: Staff Advocate JoAnn

By bfines • March 9, 2026
In March 2025, Child Protective Services removed four young children, just 7, 4, 2, and 3 months old, from their mother’s care. This difficult step followed ongoing concerns about neglect, largely connected to the mother’s struggle with substance use, even during her most recent pregnancy. Although CPS offered support through Family Based Safety Services, the mother was unable to engage in the help provided. The children’s father was also unable to support them due to his own substance abuse and his incarceration in Bexar County Jail. Before removal, the children’s basic medical and educational needs were going unmet. They had been moved repeatedly between their mother and other relatives, leaving them without the stability, routine, and nurturing supervision every child deserves.  When CASA Staff Advocate, JoAnn Herring, was assigned the case in April 2025, she immediately reached out to both kinship caregivers to understand the children’s needs and how to best support the families stepping in to care for them. JoAnn quickly learned that the paternal grandmother, who lovingly took in some of the children, was struggling financially and facing barriers due to limited English proficiency. To ensure she wasn’t facing these challenges alone, JoAnn submitted a CFE (Collaborative Family Engagement) referral and personally provided translation support so the grandmother could access services with dignity and understanding. Throughout the case, JoAnn has witnessed moments where cultural sensitivity was lacking, and personal biases influenced important decisions; often at the expense of what was best for the children. Despite these obstacles, she continues to advocate steadfastly and compassionately for the children to remain with the kinship caregivers who have opened their homes and hearts to provide safety, consistency, and love. Although the case is not yet over, Joann’s story demonstrates that CASA’s advocacy reaches beyond the children themselves, strengthening the village of care and support surrounding them, because CASA wants children to be safe, to thrive, and to have their overall well-being protected.

March Advocate Spotlight

By bfines • March 9, 2026
Johnathan Cobb
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