Story of Hope: Illiana
March Advocate Impact Story
Written By: Illiana's Advocate Supervisor
For her first case as a new CASA advocate, Illiana chose to advocate for Michael and Gabriela after she learned about the severe abuse and medical neglect they had suffered. Throughout the case, Illiana advocated diligently for 5-year-old Michael, and 4-year-old Gabriela, primarily focusing on their medical, psychological, and educational needs.
While the children were placed with foster parents, Illiana discovered that the foster parents were giving Michael ADHD medication, although he had never been diagnosed with ADHD. She quickly informed the children’s ad litem and CPS and Michael was promptly taken off the medications. Because of the extensive trauma they had experienced, Illiana advocated for the children to be enrolled in play therapy. After they were placed in therapy, she made sure to maintain consistent communication with the therapist, where she reported her concerns about the children. When the children moved placements, Illiana visited their new schools to ensure they were adjusting well and receiving a good education with any additional support they needed.
"Because of the extensive trauma they had experienced, Illiana advocated for the children to be enrolled in play therapy."
After initially not making any progress toward his court-ordered services, the children’s father announced he would be seeking full custody, and began working on his service plan. He also recommended his grandmother as a potential placement.
Illiana knew it would be a difficult move for Michael and Gabriela since this would be their 5th since entering foster care. She visited the children on a weekly basis, until they were placed with their great-grandmother 250 miles from her, in the aptly named Pharr, TX. Even at this great distance, Illiana continued to support the children. She accompanied the children’s caseworker when they drove to drop the children off at their new home, and then continued to drive the 250 miles on her own to see the children monthly. She also made sure to keep ongoing communication with their caregivers, observed many parent / child visits, and was able to gather valuable information that aided her in her permanency recommendations.
During this chaotic time on the case, Illiana remained steadfastly focused on determining the children’s best interests. She went above and beyond on her case. She interviewed the children, CPS, and the children’s ad litem, kinship placement and foster parents. Her final recommendation about permanency was thoughtful and deliberate, and she was not intimidated by reaching a different conclusion than other parties on her case. The children were permanently placed with their great-grandmother, while the father was granted possessory rights.
Illiana never lost sight of her CASA children, and she always worked diligently to advocate for their best interests. Since she has become an Advocate at CASA, she has completed two cases with a total of five children, and is currently advocating for four children on her third case. Her focus and priority are her CASA children’s well-being, and making sure the court is informed of concerns and recommendations on her case. Since the beginning, Illiana has never shied away from making her voice heard because she recognizes that she represents the voices of her CASA children, and the eyes of the court.
Help us provide more Advocates like Illiana who are willing to go above and beyond to provide a voice for children in foster care.
Fund Their Hope
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.
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.
