Advocate Spotlight: James Barrett
October Advocate Interview
1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?
I have been an advocate for going on three years now. I decided to join C.A.S.A. in August of 2016. I have been involved with you before volunteering with the Big Brother program while stationed with the Army in El Paso, Texas. However, because I myself was in the foster care system while growing up I knew that I wanted to serve foster kids and volunteer in other ways. I cannot recall the first time I hear of C.A.S.A. but it was probably in my first semester of training to become a social worker right before I retired from the Army. I mentioned it to my wife and she told me that her mom had actually done it before in El Paso, Texas. I figured no better time than now and how much better could I have become if I had a C.A.S.A. when I was going through the system.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate?
The most rewarding aspect of being an advocate would be seeing the progress a young child makes. The progress could be simple to us but to them it is huge. I have had the opportunity to see children leave a treatment facility for the first time in two years to simply go bowling, young children go to great adoptive homes, and sibling groups get reunited. Sometimes a child may regress and then progress. To me this is the most rewarding part of being a C.A.S.A. is see how wonderfully children can bounce back from the negatives in our world with a caring adult that promises to stick by them.
3. If you could offer words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?
The best advice I can give is to always be there for the children. Sometimes what is best for the children is not what they want to hear. If they know you are there for them, they will take to you. Sometimes depending on age and circumstances this may take some time. Be willing to put in the time and effort it takes to “win over” the child. Remember who this child is, what they like, who they like, and what they want to be when they grow up. Little things like a child’s favorite color and favorite super hero will go a long way to helping securing a child’s trust.
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.
Emily White
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