December Advocate Spotlight

Leti Diaz

Advocate: Joseph Zlotkowski

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

I have been an advocate for over a year and a half. I first heard about CASA back in the early ‘90s and knew a woman at work who was a CASA advocate. I knew then I wanted to be a CASA Advocate one day, but for me working, children, caring for an elderly parent, etc. kept me from doing this until I retired. My daughter wanted to become a CASA Advocate and wanted me to sign up with her, and this is how it all started.


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

Being an advocate is rewarding in many ways. First, you hope your work on your case has you being a part of the solution and not part of the problem regardless of which agency/institution you are working with. Watching the progress and development of the children during this process is very inspirational, that in spite of all the obstacles presented to these children, they are resilient and thrive in a safe, loving environment. Being an advocate brings personal growth in humanity. These children don’t know you, don’t know if they can trust you, don’t know if you really care for them. But in time, they know they can count on you, that they know you love them, and that they can trust you to come back to be with them.


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

Be yourself, know that you are making a difference in the children’s lives and in the caregiver’s life, even if they don’t realize or acknowledge it at times. Trust your instinct in how to handle situations, you will gain information and knowledge about the children when you pick them up and spend time with them. Even though there might be some setbacks with the whole situation with the children, be patient and non-judgmental of the different agencies/institutions that are involved in the whole process, yet do speak up as necessary. Be patient with the caregivers as they have a lot on their plate and may not put the same sense of urgency on certain things as you would, but you know they still have the children’s best interest at the forefront.

A Message from Child Advocates San Antonio on National CASA/GAL Funding Termination

By bfines • April 25, 2025
A Message from Child Advocates San Antonio on National CASA/GAL Funding Termination On April 24, 2025, the National CASA/GAL Association announced that its federal funding through the U.S. Department of Justice has been terminated. As a result, National CASA is suspending subaward disbursements, training programs, and technical assistance. The organization is actively appealing the decision and assessing what services it can continue to provide during this transition. Info from National CASA can be found here. We understand that this announcement may raise concerns in the community, and we want to provide reassurance and clarity regarding how this news affects Child Advocates San Antonio. First and foremost: There is no impact to our organization or our services. We are fully operational and remain committed to serving the children and families in our community with the same excellence, integrity, compassion, and commitment we have always shown. Here are key facts we want our supporters and the public to know: Our funding remains secure. Child Advocates San Antonio has a diverse and stable funding base that includes a healthy mix of public and private funding. No one funding stream exceeds 50% of our budget. You can access our recent financials HERE. Our stability comes from strong state support and our dedicated Bexar County community, which keeps Child Advocates San Antonio resilient and focused on serving children. We do not receive subawards from National CASA. The suspension of subaward disbursements has no bearing on our funding or ability to operate. Our training programs continue without interruption. Our comprehensive and high-quality Advocate training programs are fully intact. We do not require technical assistance from National CASA. Our team is experienced, well-resourced, and prepared to continue all programming. No cuts, no hiring freezes, no changes to our operations. We remain fully staffed and actively engaged in our mission to advocate for children in foster care. Our commitment to advocating for children in foster care is unwavering, and our services continue as usual. We want to be clear: Child Advocates San Antonio is strong, stable, and here to stay. CASA programs in Texas are strong, independent, and fully committed to children in foster care. While we’re aware of the situation with National CASA/GAL, it doesn’t impact the critical advocacy happening here. Our commitment is clear: we will stand with the children we serve—until they are safe, their voices are heard, and their futures are secure. Our focus, as always, is on advocating for the best interests of children and ensuring they have a voice in court. Public support at all levels, including individuals, ensures we remain strong, regardless of national developments. No matter what, our mission stays the same – every child deserves to be safe, cared for, and have their voice heard. CASA’s mission is as important as ever— children in foster care need advocates who will stand by them. Start your Advocate Journey today!

April Advocate Spotlight

By bfines • April 11, 2025
Brittany Coppage
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