CASA Appoints new President and Chief Executive Officer
Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) Announces Angela White as President & Chief Executive Officer
San Antonio, TX – January 25, 2021 – Child Advocates San Antonio’s (CASA’s) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that it has named Angela White as its new President & CEO, effective February 1, 2021. White comes to CASA with a wealth of experience in the field of support programs within the child welfare field. She joins the team after an extensive career in leadership roles in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. White is well-known throughout the San Antonio community for her compassion, leadership ability, and collaborative spirit.
Angela White’s appointment comes at a critical time for the organization; referrals to CASA have stayed consistent throughout COVID-19, even while cases have become more complex. In the past few months, CASA has seen growth in the number of cases referred by the Bexar County Children’s Courts. We anticipate further referrals to come, as prolonged financial hardship and isolation are breeding grounds for potential child abuse and neglect.
In these challenging times, CASA’s Board of Directors considered the need to find someone who would lead with strength, as well as a focus on the core values of the agency: integrity, compassion, collaborative spirit, and a deep sense of commitment to serve children who have experienced neglect and abuse, Juanita Peláez-Prada, Board Chair of CASA, said.
“We found that person in Angela White,” said Peláez-Prada. “Angela’s enthusiasm, grace, wit, love of children, and compassionate leadership will promote and ensure the fulfillment of our mission: to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children so that they may have stability in a safe and loving home.”
White comes to CASA from her role as Chief Operating Officer of Chosen Care, a non-profit organization focused on helping children heal from trauma by strengthening their families. Prior to that role, White served as the Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Home, a non-profit substance addiction treatment center in San Antonio.
White has also held senior management positions within the private sector, in the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States in various fields, including finance, SAP (IT) project implementation, sales and international customer service, manufacturing and compliance.
White holds a BA in Business and Finance from North Cheshire College (UK) and an MBA in Leadership and Sustainability from the University of Cumbria (UK).
White comes to CASA with enthusiasm, stating, “I am absolutely delighted to accept the position of President & CEO at Child Advocates San Antonio. To be able to work with the dedicated and talented team already in place is a great opportunity. We will continue to build and grow the organization, so that more children within the Bexar County foster care system can have a Court Appointed Special Advocate. My professional experience in leadership and organizational growth, coupled with a deep personal connection to the mission, is a unique combination that allows me to bring exceptional value to CASA”.
About Child Advocates San Antonio
The mission of Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) is to recruit, train, and supervise court-appointed volunteer Advocates who provide constancy for abused and neglected children and youth while advocating for services and placement in safe and permanent homes. In FY2020, 751 CASA volunteers advocated on behalf of 1,883 children in foster care.
For more information or to set up an zoom media interview, please contact:
Sue Borst
Communications and Marketing Manager
sborst@casa-satx.org | 210.867.1429 (c)
In April 2023, Child Protective Services received a referral reporting that two sisters, ages 15 and 16, were being held at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center following a family altercation. Mother informed the department that she did not have a place for the girls to be released, and they were subsequently placed in an emergency shelter. Mother was asked if she would attend the court hearing and stated that she would not. Although both sisters were released to Mother from the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center, Mother refused to pick them up. There were no relatives or family friends willing to provide placement for the girls, and Mother stated that she wanted to voluntarily sign over her parental rights. Stephanie was assigned as the CASA Staff Advocate in May 2025. By this time, both sisters had experienced multiple placements. The older sister was 18 years old, enrolled in College Docket, and preparing to graduate from high school. The younger sister was 17 years old and residing at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center. Although the sisters were on different paths, they remained emotionally connected and struggled with maintaining contact due to their circumstances. CASA attended the older sister’s high school graduation and the graduation celebration that followed. CASA assisted her with completing all required paperwork and testing necessary for college enrollment. Additionally, CASA supported her in moving into her first apartment, helping her get settled and navigate the challenges of early adulthood. While the younger sister was residing at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center, CASA met with her shortly after assignment and introduced herself. The younger sister was later transferred to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD). CASA continued to maintain contact despite challenges related to TJJD policies and procedures. CASA established a positive and consistent point of contact, worked to understand TJJD visitation processes, gathered relevant information, maintained communication with the youth, and actively worked to schedule sibling visitation. CASA has remained a consistent and reliable support system for the older sister as she transitions into adulthood. The youth frequently contacts CASA for guidance and assistance with everyday questions, and CASA continues to provide support. The older sister is currently passing all of her college courses, earning straight A’s, and is actively seeking employment. For the younger sister, CASA remains in close communication with TJJD case managers. CASA provides ongoing support through in-person visits every three months and monthly video calls. CASA is also gathering clothing, legal documentation, and preparing a comprehensive resource packet to support the younger sister upon her release. Through every challenge this case brings, Stephanie will stand beside these sisters, offering unwavering support and encouragement as they discover their strength and reach their full potential.
Joy Varner
