Story of Hope: Ida

September Advocate Impact Story
Written By: Ida's Advocate Supervisor

From the moment that Ida Sudolcan signed onto her first case back in April of 2019, she has not stopped advocating for the best interest of the five children on her case.  As the children came into CPS care, the case immediately evolved as many concerns with the children became evident. There were medical needs to be met, educational concerns, and placement and permanency issues to contend with. All the while Ida persisted in addressing each issue with a constant focus on the best interest of the children. 


Because this was a large sibling group with varied ages, alongside the therapeutic needs of one of the siblings, placing the children together was challenging. Ida worked diligently to identify family members that could potentially accommodate the placement of all five children, but because none were identified, the children were placed together in a shelter. Ida maintained contact with the children’s caseworker and continuously advocated for the children to be moved into a nurturing and loving home. Foster homes were eventually identified, but the siblings were not placed together.  Despite the children’s separation, Ida helped to make the transition as smooth as possible for them.


 "During this latest COVID-19 move, Ida was creative and set up Zoom meetings for the children prior to the move, so they could virtually meet their new foster parents before arriving in person."


Since their time in foster care, the children have been repeatedly moved, but Ida was there to assist through every single transitions. During this latest COVID-19 move, Ida was creative and set up Zoom meetings for the children prior to the move, so they could virtually meet their new foster parents before arriving in person. 


COVID-19 protocols have not allowed Ida to have face-to-face interactions with the children, but she has regular contact with them via Zoom and phone calls.  She has also been able to do “porch drop offs” to help bring needed items. In addition to maintaining regular and creative contact with the children, Ida also tracks the progress of their parents in complying with their court-ordered services. At this point in Ida’s case, the children’s parents have not yet successfully addressed the concerns of CPS, so the children remain in their foster care placements. Finding a forever home for these children remains the urgent and essential priority on this case. While a home has been identified for the youngest children, the oldest child was recently placed in a shelter. Per her usual practice, Ida is actively working to advocate for him, by attending court staffings to discuss placement options and communicating with his caseworker to find him a forever home.


 "Ida has been there for them every step of the way."


Throughout the children’s experience in foster care, Ida has been their one constant. They have moved and changed schools multiple times, they have been assigned two different case workers, multiple case managers, and several different counselors. Throughout the many changes and the adjustments, they have benefitted immensely from having Ida listen to them, support them, and advocate for them. Her advocacy is now more essential than ever. These children have struggled through so much this year and Ida has been there for them every step of the way. Ida has done her best to make sure that they have the best care and the best possible outcomes. She is their familiar face and she provides them HOPE. 

Help us provide more Advocates like Ida 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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Meet Our Staff Advocates!

June 17, 2026
Pictured, left to right, JoAnn, Yvonne, Lorena, Mackenzie, Michelle, Stephanie, and Dan At CASA, our vision is to serve every child in foster care with a dedicated advocate. While an incredible volunteer serves most children, our new team of Staff Advocates helps expand our capacity to serve children with extremely challenging cases. Staff Advocates help fill critical gaps by taking on cases that often require more intensive coordination and support. These may include larger sibling groups, children with multiple placements, cases connected to specialty courts, or youth placed outside of Bexar County, sometimes even in other cities or states. By supporting these more complex situations, Staff Advocates ensure that children still receive consistent advocacy and attention when additional time or specialized support is needed. Our team includes six Staff Advocates and one Team Lead, all trained employees who work directly with children and families involved in the child welfare system. Thanks to funding from Bexar County and the John R. & Greli N. Less Charitable Trust , the Staff Advocate program has served 126 children in the past year who might not otherwise have had CASA’s brand of consistent, caring advocacy. We are also delighted to announce funding from National CASA/GAL Association to partially support the program in the coming year. In addition to their casework, our Staff Advocates support the Recruitment Department by helping raise awareness about advocacy opportunities in the community. Because they work directly with children and the court system, they bring valuable, real-life insight into what advocacy truly looks like. Staff Advocates have joined the recruitment team at several community events, including Coffee Shop Info Sessions, Comic Con, Faith-based markets, and National Night Out. At these events, they answer questions, share their experiences, and help potential volunteers better understand what it means to advocate for a child in foster care. They bring a firsthand perspective full of authenticity and impact for those considering becoming CASA volunteers. Impact in the Community During our past fiscal year starting July 2025, our Staff Advocates have served 126 children, including 23 children who were placed outside of Bexar County. Since its inception in January 2025, the team’s work has contributed to several meaningful outcomes for children and youth, including: 6 successful reunifications with parents , impacting 16 children 2 adoptions , providing permanent homes for 4 children 2 permanency placements for long-term care , supporting 4 children 1 successful transition into adulthood , where a young person is now attending college, employed, and living independently in her own apartment 6 college-bound students supported These outcomes reflect the dedication and commitment our Staff Advocates bring to every case they serve. Thank you, Staff Advocate Team! If you are interested in learning more about becoming a CASA advocate or attending an upcoming information session, we invite you to connect with our Recruitment Team and discover how you can make a difference in a child’s life.

Story of Hope: Staff Advocate Michelle

June 8, 2026
Harrison came into care in January 2021 due to abuse and neglect in the home. The department attempted to implement a few safety plans but to no avail. Ultimately, the parents were unable and unwilling to provide him with a safe and stable home environment, and Harrison was placed into foster care. In June 2025, Staff Advocate, Michelle, was assigned to the case, and he was living with his aunt in Laredo, TX. From day one, Michelle has been dedicated to getting to know Harrison, establishing rapport, and building trust. She would take the time to listen to him and get to know his likes and interests. When she first met him, he was timid and shy but as he gained confidence and became more comfortable, he started to open up to Michelle. He started advocating for himself, asking for a new charger for his laptop to do his schoolwork and started to disclose more important topics such as sensitive issues he was facing with his family. In October 2025, while Michelle was heading to Laredo to visit Harrison, he called her to let her know that he was no longer allowed back into his aunt’s home. There was a placement breakdown happening due to a verbal/physical altercation with his aunt and other family members, and his aunt gave notice to the department that day. Upon arrival at Laredo, Michelle immediately called Harrison’s case worker and attorney to let them know what had just transpired. Due to Harrison being 18 and not officially in extended care, Michelle was met with some pushbacks; however, she persevered and asked what his options were, if any, and how we could help him. Harrison’s team worked together and was able to get the extended care paperwork drafted and completed and Michelle was able to brainstorm with Harrison to find him a temporary home with a close friend until his caseworker could bring him back to San Antonio. Michelle took Harrison to his aunt’s so he could pack his belongings and stay with his friend temporarily. Michelle was so thankful that she could be there for him in his time of need. A few days later, Harrison was back in San Antonio. Harrison is currently thriving in his Supervised Independent Living (SIL) placement and is on track to graduate high school in May. He has plans to attend college for Cosmetology. He has had a tremendous change in his overall mood and is coming into his own as a confident young adult. When asked by Michelle how he feels being at his current placement, his response was “safe” and that’s all Michelle needed to hear to know she was making a positive impact.
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