Story of Hope: Sylvia

October Advocate Impact Story
Written By: Sylvia Reyna, Ph.D., CASA Advocate

"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."

As an educator, I always knew that my heart rested in providing a quality education for children to change their life's circumstances. After retirement, I longed to engage in activities to help children. Volunteering as a CASA advocate provides the perfect union of my experiences and desire to serve those children most in need. 

 

In June 2019, immediately after completing my training, my supervisor quickly introduced me to three potential case files. She asked me to review them and choose the one I thought I could support. It took only a minute to decide that the case involving six children—three girls and three boys, ranging in ages from 9 to 15, needed me as their advocate. Admittingly, the case file was challenging to read—the outcry of sexual abuse by the youngest daughter against her mother's paramour disrupted six children's family life. As a result, separate foster care group facilities now served as home for all six children. My review of the girls' forensic interviews revealed details that solidified my resolve to advocate for the children.


 "From the onset, I expected the restrained interactions and knew that our journey would be difficult. However, I also knew that the six children would occupy a special place in my heart for a lifetime."


The first visits with both the boys and girls were pleasant, but they guarded their interactions with me. Even the most general topics of conversation were labored. From the onset, I expected the restrained interactions and knew that our journey would be difficult. However, I also knew that the six children would occupy a special place in my heart for a lifetime. 

 

In late July 2019, their grandmother became the caregiver for all six children. Beginning then through March 2020, just before the COVID-19 community shut-down, I came to know and appreciate each child's unique gifts. I made it a routine to communicate with the children weekly. Whether it was during the numerous visits at their grandmother's home, at school, or taking them on outings, each child revealed their unique personalities, talents, and needs. Their grandmother was committed to ensuring the children's success and worked closely with me to accomplish many of the milestones and expectations we set for the children. 


 "As their educational surrogate, I advocated for additional educational services, including tutoring, attendance at Saturday school, and supplemental instructional materials. I also attended parent-teacher conferences, ARD meetings, and planning sessions. I also advocated for the boys' student rights regarding disciplinary infractions."


In November 2019, during a scheduled hearing, the judge designated me as the children's educational surrogate. Upon that designation, I was able to delve more deeply into the educational needs of the children. Of the six children, three require special education services, one is dyslexic, and an additional child will soon undergo a special education evaluation. All but one of the children repeated a grade level at some point in their educational career, and all have significant difficulty reading. As their educational surrogate, I advocated for additional educational services, including tutoring, attendance at Saturday school, and supplemental instructional materials. I also attended parent-teacher conferences, ARD meetings, and planning sessions. I also advocated for the boys' student rights regarding disciplinary infractions.

 

In mid-March 2020, the boys transitioned to live full-time with their mother, while the girls remained under their grandmother's care. During a subsequent hearing in May 2020, the judge accepted my recommendation to extend the girls' placement with their grandmother through the summer, to allow their mother time to become more financially stable and make accommodations in her home for all the children. It also allowed the children to attend additional therapy sessions and time for us to seek supplemental educational and recreational services for the children if permitted under the COVID-19 restrictions. Though the pandemic limited our in-person visits, it has not dampened our interactions. We can regularly speak by telephone, text, or FaceTime. By August 2020, the girls transitioned to their mother's care, and everyone is thriving as a complete family. 

 

After more than 15 months of service, I have seen a transformation in the children's well-being. They can engage in conversations, express their feelings, discuss their aspirations, and demonstrate their self-worth. While the children found their voice from their experiences, I found joy in knowing that we made a difference in each other's lives. 

Help us provide more Advocates like Sylvia 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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