Story of Hope: June's Impact
September Advocate Impact Story
Written By: June's Advocate Supervisor
Julie, and her little brother Nico, were tired after a church event one fall night in 2015. They fell asleep in their parent’s bed because their beds were covered with laundry. Julie awakened in the night to the feel of her stepfather sexually assaulting her. She tried to push him away, but he persisted even though Julie’s mother was in the same bed. Julie told her mother the next morning, but her mother did not believe her and told her she had probably been dreaming. CPS and law enforcement investigated and removed the children from the house. Julie’s stepfather was arrested and then released on bond.
Two years later, CPS became involved again when they were alerted that the children’s mother had moved herself and the children back in with her husband, even though he was awaiting trial for indecency with a child. The judge specially requested CASA, and June, one of our Volunteer Advocates, signed on to the case.
June quickly got to know her CASA kids and began advocating for their needs. Both kids had excessive absences, so June encouraged their kinship placement to take them regularly to school. When Nico struggled with homework, June went to his placement and helped him work through all his make-up assignments. When their therapist was unable to continue working with them, June was able to ensure that both kids quickly began sessions with a new trauma therapist.
When Nico struggled with homework, June went to his placement and helped him work through all his make-up assignments.
June also observed parent/child visits and relayed concerns about Julie’s mother pressuring Julie to forgive her stepfather for sexually abusing her. She attended the stepfather’s criminal hearings to support Julie, who was the key witness for the prosecution. At one chaotic pre-trial hearing, the family was pressuring Julie in the court hallway and June stepped in and asked the prosecutor for a private waiting room to protect Julie. After that hearing, Julie was removed from her kinship placement by CPS. June went with Julie and her caseworker from the courthouse to CPS, and consoled Julie for hours while a new placement was arranged. Soon after that, Nico was also removed from kinship placement.
The week-long jury trials for the stepfather’s criminal case and for the CPS case were held back to back in the summer of 2019. June provided the ADA’s with evidence in the father’s criminal trial. She attended the “adoption ceremony” held by Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) for Julie prior to Julie’s testimony. She supported Julie throughout both trials and stood right beside her as Julie bravely gave her victim impact statement in criminal court.
June testified about the children’s best interests for almost an hour at the CPS jury trial and her testimony was crucial in securing the termination of parental rights. June was there to support Nico when CPS informed him that his father had been convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison. June has been an incredible support to her CASA kids and has steadfastly advocated for their best interests throughout her case. Their CPS case is now on appeal, but June is determined to stay Julie and Nico’s CASA Advocate until they each celebrate their adoption day.
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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
