September Advocate Spotlight

Ida Sudolcan

Advocate: Joseph Zlotkowski

1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?

I'm not sure what my official date is but I know it's been about 5 years now. What motivated me to be a CASA is the desire to make a difference in our children who are caught in the Foster Care system. My parents were always "adopting" families from our church and our home was always filled with people that did not have extended family support. We grew up giving to others even when we didn't have enough to give. God always blessed us above and beyond what we blessed others with. I always thought maybe someday I could become a foster parent but that never materialized so when I heard about CASA I jumped at the opportunity.


2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an advocate?

Developing relationships with the children and their foster families and their biological families. Two of my cases have resulted in adoption of sibling groups. It was so rewarding to see my first case of five brothers and sisters able to be adopted into a single home. I have kept in contact with the family and enjoy seeing them thrive.


3. If you could offer some words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?

Do your best and don't be discouraged with things look hopeless. Our job is to advocate for our kids. Never take “No” for an answer. Develop a positive relationship with all parties, especially the CPS case worker. Don't be afraid to express your concerns and your doubts about decisions being made for your kids. A CASA advocate is a crucial part of the case, we have to be the eyes and ears for our kids, think outside the box sometimes - push for what you know is right. You'll never regret being an advocate although sometimes it's overwhelming, we are the key to making a difference in a child's life.

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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