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.

Story of Hope: Brennan Holland

By bfines • February 13, 2025
Brennan Holland was assigned to Sarah in December 2022. Sarah entered foster care with a history of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, yet she remains incredibly resilient. Throughout her time in care, she has experienced multiple placements. Brennan quickly learned that Sarah has a strong passion for neuroscience and dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon. Determined to pursue her goal, she graduated early from high school and is now enrolled in the College Bound Docket program, attending her school of choice—UTSA. However, the path to achieving her dream has not been without challenges.\ Sarah received a discharge notice from her current placement and was denied Supervised Independent Living (SIL) until she turned 18. It felt as though no one was giving her a real chance. CASA stepped in to advocate for Sarah’s independence, pushing for her to live in a dorm on her own. Not everyone on her team supported this idea due to concerns about her age, limited independent living experience, and fears that she might run away, be influenced by older peers, or engage in risky behavior. CASA, however, continued to stand by Sarah, even offering financial assistance to help her move into a dorm until she became eligible for SIL.  At Sarah’s next court hearing on January 24, 2025, her attorney ad litem filed a motion for her to live in a dorm at UTSA. CASA once again advocated for the court to approve this plan. The judge, quoting Brennan’s court report, stated, “Brennan said it correctly: You are going to succeed or fail based on your decisions.” Ultimately, the judge authorized Sarah to live in the dorms on campus and ordered CPS to cover the cost of SIL. CASA recently assisted Sarah in moving into her very first dorm room, and we are excited to see what the future holds for her. Since being placed on campus, she has built a strong network of supportive adults to help her thrive. The impact of CASA facilitating these vital connections is crucial in ensuring that young adults like Sarah have the support they need to successfully transition into adulthood.

February Advocate Spotlight

By bfines • February 13, 2025
Emily White
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