Advocate Spotlight: Beth Morse
July Advocate Interview
1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?
I’ve been an Advocate since May 2008. It’s hard to believe it’s been 12 years! I was a stay-at-home Mom at the time and realized that my boys, ages 14 and 10, weren’t needing me as much. I had seen the CASA banner displayed over area streets for many years and decided to inquire about it. I had the time and the talent (my background is in child and family development) to advocate for children in need.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate?
The most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate is thinking that you’ve made a positive impact on a child and having that impact confirmed by the caregiver. About a year ago I crossed paths with the grandmother who adopted her grandson (the child on my case). He was 10 years old when the case was closed. She immediately recognized me and called me by name. She told me that her grandson, now 16 years old, was doing well in school, was on the football team, was off all of his meds, and was featured in an article about his basketball team in Sports Illustrated. She thanked me for helping her adopt her grandson and told me they thought of me often.
3. If you could offer words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?
The skill I’ve learned over these years and would like other Advocates to know is the importance of being adaptable. Just when we think we know the outcome of the case, something happens: a relative comes out of the woodwork, a placement breaks down, a parent tests positive. That’s when we, as Advocates, need to go to plan B or C or D; always keeping in mind what is in the best interest of the child(ren). Being adaptable is also vital when dealing with the various parties of the case. Circumstances can change, sometimes quickly, on our cases and we need to be ready for those changes.
A Message from Child Advocates San Antonio on National CASA/GAL Funding Termination On April 24, 2025, the National CASA/GAL Association announced that its federal funding through the U.S. Department of Justice has been terminated. As a result, National CASA is suspending subaward disbursements, training programs, and technical assistance. The organization is actively appealing the decision and assessing what services it can continue to provide during this transition. Info from National CASA can be found here. We understand that this announcement may raise concerns in the community, and we want to provide reassurance and clarity regarding how this news affects Child Advocates San Antonio. First and foremost: There is no impact to our organization or our services. We are fully operational and remain committed to serving the children and families in our community with the same excellence, integrity, compassion, and commitment we have always shown. Here are key facts we want our supporters and the public to know: Our funding remains secure. Child Advocates San Antonio has a diverse and stable funding base that includes a healthy mix of public and private funding. No one funding stream exceeds 50% of our budget. You can access our recent financials HERE. Our stability comes from strong state support and our dedicated Bexar County community, which keeps Child Advocates San Antonio resilient and focused on serving children. We do not receive subawards from National CASA. The suspension of subaward disbursements has no bearing on our funding or ability to operate. Our training programs continue without interruption. Our comprehensive and high-quality Advocate training programs are fully intact. We do not require technical assistance from National CASA. Our team is experienced, well-resourced, and prepared to continue all programming. No cuts, no hiring freezes, no changes to our operations. We remain fully staffed and actively engaged in our mission to advocate for children in foster care. Our commitment to advocating for children in foster care is unwavering, and our services continue as usual. We want to be clear: Child Advocates San Antonio is strong, stable, and here to stay. CASA programs in Texas are strong, independent, and fully committed to children in foster care. While we’re aware of the situation with National CASA/GAL, it doesn’t impact the critical advocacy happening here. Our commitment is clear: we will stand with the children we serve—until they are safe, their voices are heard, and their futures are secure. Our focus, as always, is on advocating for the best interests of children and ensuring they have a voice in court. Public support at all levels, including individuals, ensures we remain strong, regardless of national developments. No matter what, our mission stays the same – every child deserves to be safe, cared for, and have their voice heard. CASA’s mission is as important as ever— children in foster care need advocates who will stand by them. Start your Advocate Journey today!
Brittany Coppage
