Advocate Spotlight: Brandy Alexander

 December Advocate Spotlight

1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one? 
I was sworn in as an advocate and assigned my first case in April 2020.I had heard of the CASA organization many times – college, advertisement at my work place and flyers/commercials. I knew in my heart that I wanted to do it, but I would always think twice if I had the time to dedicate to it. When I started working from home earlier this year and heard of the great need for advocates with the pandemic, I decided it was time to jump in and do my part.  
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate? 
The most rewarding part of advocacy for me, is seeing positive changes for the kiddos, no matter how big or small. I recently hosted a ZOOM call with their siblings and grandmother living in another city, and seeing the joy on the kids’ faces the entire call was wonderful. Now that CASA is allowing in-person visitation, I have also been loving that time to get to know their personalities and interests even more. While they have been through trying times, the kids are so resilient and that drives me to continue fighting for their best interests.  
3. If you could offer some words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be? 
Think every day, what you can be doing to advocate for your kids, and then make a real plan to do those things. Holding a full time job, I found it difficult at first to weave CASA advocacy into my every day life. As I started setting aside lunch breaks and evenings and getting my support systems in place, it became easier to keep on track and make progress. Also, don’t get discouraged! There are going to be tough days where you are feeling stuck in addition to the happy ones. If you need to have a good cry or just take a couple days to process everything, that is okay. We have to take care of ourselves to in turn advocate for our kids. Lastly, don’t forget your CASA supervisor is there for you! He/she is always there to provide direction and support.

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
Show More
Share by: