March Advocate Spotlight

Laurie Lefko

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

I have been an advocate since the fall of 2015. I realized I wanted to be an advocate probably 15 years before that when I first heard about the program when I lived in Indiana. It was just not the right time in my life to become an advocate at that time. I moved to San Antonio in August of 2015 and contacted CASA soon after that.

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

By far the most rewarding aspect of being an advocate is seeing an outcome to a case that is in the best interests of the children and will provide the children with a stable, permanent home. That could be reunification, relative adoption or non-relative adoption. I have seen all of those outcomes in my time as an advocate.

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

I would tell my fellow advocates to keep in mind that you are working to help children have a better life. As the song says, “Children are our future”. If we can help children to grow up in a safe, stable home that will help all of us.

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Story of Hope: Staff Advocate JoAnn

By bfines • March 9, 2026

In March 2025, Child Protective Services removed four young children, just 7, 4, 2, and 3 months old, from their mother’s care. This difficult step followed ongoing concerns about neglect, largely connected to the mother’s struggle with substance use, even during her most recent pregnancy. Although CPS offered support through Family Based Safety Services, the mother was unable to engage in the help provided. The children’s father was also unable to support them due to his own substance abuse and his incarceration in Bexar County Jail. Before removal, the children’s basic medical and educational needs were going unmet. They had been moved repeatedly between their mother and other relatives, leaving them without the stability, routine, and nurturing supervision every child deserves. When CASA Staff Advocate, JoAnn Herring, was assigned the case in April 2025, she immediately reached out to both kinship caregivers to understand the children’s needs and how to best support the families stepping in to care for them. JoAnn quickly learned that the paternal grandmother, who lovingly took in some of the children, was struggling financially and facing barriers due to limited English proficiency. To ensure she wasn’t facing these challenges alone, JoAnn submitted a CFE (Collaborative Family Engagement) referral and personally provided translation support so the grandmother could access services with dignity and understanding. Throughout the case, JoAnn has witnessed moments where cultural sensitivity was lacking, and personal biases influenced important decisions; often at the expense of what was best for the children. Despite these obstacles, she continues to advocate steadfastly and compassionately for the children to remain with the kinship caregivers who have opened their homes and hearts to provide safety, consistency, and love. Although the case is not yet over, Joann’s story demonstrates that CASA’s advocacy reaches beyond the children themselves, strengthening the village of care and support surrounding them, because CASA wants children to be safe, to thrive, and to have their overall well-being protected.