Story of Hope: Sandra Lopez

Story of Hope: Sandra Lopez

Martin’s story is one of HOPE…his hope to have a voice; his hope to be loved and his hope to have a forever family. 


In early 2022, CASA was asked by the Court to look at this particular case, as the child’s needs were extensive and complex. Child Protective Services (CPS) has had Permanent Managing Conservatorship of Martin since August 2019. This child’s siblings had been adopted and Martin remained. A potential adoptive family from another state came to meet Martin and after one hour with him, withdrew their interest. 


After reading the case details, it was evident that Martin needed a special CASA Advocate. 


Advocate Sandra Lopez signed on to the case in April 2022 and Martin now had a voice. Martin is 6 years old and has autism, is nonverbal and has a significant cognitive deficit.  Martin also has an unusual perseveration of severe banging of the head, and this had been reported since he entered CPS care when he was very young. 


Sandra met Martin and his caregivers at his therapeutic foster home shortly after signing on to the case. Her impacts were evident right from the start. Not only was she the voice for Martin; she was the supportive voice for the caregivers even attending medical appointments at the request of the caregivers. She was instrumental in her educational advocacy efforts and the impacts were immediate. The caregivers faced numerous barriers with the school and were unable to get Martin the support and services he needed. That is until Sandra came onboard. Her professional background in Special Education was a huge asset in getting Martin all the services he needed and deserved. 


Unfortunately, Martin’s behaviors in the foster home placement escalated and a change was necessary. Martin was transitioned to a treatment center more than two hours away from San Antonio. That distance did not stop Sandra. She was in contact with his new placement shortly after he arrived and was able to participate in his transfer ARD (educational) and provide insight. In person visits offered Sandra the opportunity to observe Martin both in school and in his home environment and make herself available to the team caring for Martin. She is his voice. 


Sandra has seen a huge positive transformation with Martin and her fierce advocacy efforts have paid off.  Martin has a voice, he is loved by many, and the hope and plan is for him to return to his former foster home where, when CASA Advocate, Sandra Lopez, is no longer on the case, Martin will have the VOICE, LOVE and FOREVER FAMILY that he hoped for.   

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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