Black History Month

Spotlight: Simone Biles

Simone Arianne Biles (born March 14, 1997) is an American artistic gymnast. Biles is a three-time world all-around champion (2013–15), three-time world floor champion (2013–15), two-time world balance beam champion (2014, 2015), four-time United States national all-around champion (2013–16), and a member of the gold medal-winning American teams at 2014, the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, and the 2016 Olympic games in Rio. 

Biles is the first African-American to be a world all-around champion and the first woman to win three consecutive world all-around titles. Biles is also the most decorated American female gymnast in World Championships history, with fourteen medals, ten of them gold. 

Simone Biles was a member of the 2016 USA Olympic team dubbed the "Final Five" who took gold in Rio de Janeiro. Other team members included 2012 Olympic all-around gold medalist Gabrielle Douglas, 2012 Olympic floor gold medalist Alexandra Raisman, 2015 uneven bars world champion Madison Kocian, and the sixteen-year-old newcomer Lauren Hernandez.  

Personal Life

Simone and her three siblings entered Ohio's foster care system at age five due to her mother's substance abuse issues. They stayed in Ohio's system for three years until 2000, when they moved with their grandparents in Texas. Shortly after, in 2003, Simone was adopted by her grandparents.

Simone competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is the #1 ranked gymnast in the world and brought home the gold! 

Thanks  to: Airika Buford, LLMSW, Project Director, Bexar County Fostering Educational Success Pilot. The University of Texas at San Antonio for providing this information.
Foster Club Blog/ Simone Biles CNN Story Simone Biles
By bfines March 21, 2025
 In December 2023, CPS received a Priority One referral regarding a 2-year-old child named Katherine, who had been hospitalized after ingesting narcotics. Her mother, Jessica, admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamines at the time. Katherine later tested positive for amphetamines, prompting the Department to seek removal of both Katherine and her 4-year-old sister, Valerie. Their maternal grandmother expressed willingness to care for them but only if CPS became involved. CASA advocate Alfredo Concha was appointed to the case and immediately took action. He contacted the grandparents and met with the children. During that visit, he learned that while the grandparents were willing to provide temporary care, they could not commit beyond December 2024. They had already adopted the girls' older sibling, which kept them busy, and as elderly caregivers, they felt unable to raise two young children long-term. They made it clear—either Jessica would have to get her life back on track by December, or the girls would need another placement. Understanding the urgency, Alfredo used Collaborative Family Engagement tools to seek additional family members who could offer support. He built a strong working relationship with Jessica, which proved invaluable. Through collaboration with Jessica, the grandparents, CPS, and the children's attorney, Alfredo identified and addressed barriers to reunification. A primary concern was Jessica’s history of substance abuse and the risk of relapse. After completing inpatient drug treatment, Jessica chose to move in with her ex-boyfriend, Robert, and his mother, Marie. Given Robert’s history of substance abuse and their previously volatile relationship, Alfredo recommended that Robert participate in services to strengthen their family dynamic. This included undergoing a substance abuse assessment, engaging in treatment, and completing a domestic violence prevention program. Alfredo also ensured Robert and Marie were included in planning meetings. During one of these meetings, Marie expressed her willingness to take in the children and committed to caring for them regardless of Jessica and Robert’s relationship. With this new support system in place, the girls were able to return to Jessica on December 3, 2024. CPS and Alfredo closely monitored the placement for several weeks to ensure stability. By January 2025, Alfredo recommended case closure, allowing the family to move forward with their lives. During the final hearing, Jessica addressed the court, expressing her gratitude. She stated that without the support of CPS and Alfredo, she would not have been able to succeed.
By bfines March 21, 2025
Larry Rushing
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