Story of Hope: Ebony

November Advocate Impact Story

Advocate Natalie Mohler was assigned to Ebony in November of 2018 and stayed on as her advocate through October of 2020. Natalie was a constant throughout the many changes Ebony had in her life. Ebony came into the care of CPS when her father asked CPS for help dealing with Ebony’s erratic behaviors. It was discovered during this case that Ebony’s father contributed to many of Ebony’s unstable behaviors. The advocate maintained contact with all parties (father, caregivers/case managers) and reviewed documents throughout the CPS case. She coordinated with the parties on services and findings and exceeded the expectations of a CASA advocate throughout her case. 

Natalie noted discrepancies in the CPS file and advocated for a review of the child’s paperwork to ensure proper placement. Some previous paperwork stated that Ebony was autistic, but this diagnosis had been ruled out by medical professionals in the past. This case review led to a closer and less restrictive placement. Natalie shined in the area of medical advocacy- she consistently communicated important information about medical follow-up appointments related to asthma and pre-existing conditions with the ad litem attorney for child, CPS and the father’s attorney. All of her findings were reported and considered during the court hearing. She made contact with former daycare teachers and maternal grandparents to gain a full picture of the family and life before CPS became involved with this family. Natalie demonstrated during a difficult case that she is very intuitive and handles conflict well. She remained professional even when things became tense. She experienced barriers and challenges but remained consistent in her goal; advocating for the best interest of the child. 

During this case, Ebony was placed in eight placements and had five different caseworkers. Natalie was able to provide information to provide continuity for Ebony, despite all of the changes. Natalie was ESSENTIAL and a constant on this case that kept the caseworkers apprised of Ebony’s needs and the history of her case. She made recommendations that were helpful to the caseworkers and contributed to the successful outcome of this case. She testified about her firsthand knowledge of the case, based on her direct observations of Ebony and her father. Understandably, she developed a great bond with the Ebony and earned the respect of all parties. I am proud to say that Ebony now lives in her forever home and she has been adopted. She is thriving and her behaviors have stabilized now that she has normalcy, a consistent routine and permanency. 

Courtney Turner, Advocate Supervisor 

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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