Story of Hope: Matthew
October Advocate Impact Story
Matthew first came to the attention of CPS at the age of nine, due to his mother’s unaddressed mental health issues and drug use. Matthew was diagnosed with autism, and though verbal, was very introverted and seldom spoke unless he was comfortable. CPS attempted to work with his mother through Family Based Safety Services however, his mother continued to test positive for drugs and was disruptive at Matthew’s school. She showed up at the relative caregiver’s home, disrupted their routine and posed a threat to the caregiver. This led to the legal removal of Matthew into CPS’s care.
Enter CASA advocate Joanna Skidmore. Joanna immediately sought ways to make a connection with this child that already has difficulties connecting with the world. She learned that he enjoyed trains, puzzles, stuffed teddy bears and watching movies. During the Christmas holiday, Joanna obtained a wooden train which she and Matthew were able to paint together, which he loved. On some visits, they would just sit and watch movies together, and Matthew slowly became so comfortable with her presence, that he would sit next to her closely.
Prior to the COVID-19 protocols, Joanna would visit with Matthew at least once in the home but also observed the bi-monthly parent/child visits that were supervised at the CPS offices. She was able to observe the changes in Matthew mother’s interactions with him. Once his mother participated in parenting classes for autism, she began the fully understand her child’s needs.
Once the COVID-19 protocols began, Joanna found ways to continue to connect to this special child. She would drop off popsicles at his home, and then arrange Face-Time chats so that they could eat their popsicles together. Joanna understood that Face-time chats were difficult for Matthew. He had begun to struggle with virtual school during the day, without the benefit of hands-on assistance he normally had in school. Joanna created a routine with Matthew that she maintained during each visit, whether in-person or virtual. She asked him three questions. The questions would vary depending on his behaviors that day, or if a parent/child visit would take place but one question always remained the same, “What do you need?” Matthew came to rely on Joanna for her patience and her willingness to allow him to be comfortable in his own space. Her questions were always open-ended and he responded openly and honestly. He’d tell her about his day, the reasons he may have acted out, what he was feeling. He told Joanna about his visits with his parents and his likes and dislikes. This extremely introverted child, who is diagnosed with autism, found someone who was able to connect with him and continue the connection, despite no longer being able to see each other in person.
Eventually Matthew’s mother became stable enough that he was placed back into her home. The court granted Permanent Managing Conservatorship to Matthew’s grandmother, with whom his mother lived. Thank you, Joanna, for the lasting impacts you have made by patiently connecting with Matthew, listening to his needs, and advocating for his best interests!
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.
