March Story of Hope: Dorothy & Sheila

Advocate Impact Story

In May of 2018 two young ladies, Dorothy (10) and Sheila (13), were brought into foster care due to neglect by their father. Their mother had sadly passed away and that affected the two girls and their father in ways no one could have imagined. Grief hit the family very hard and they soon found themselves homeless. The father was very overwhelmed and stressed but tried his best to make sure his girls were safe and fed. Unfortunately, he began drinking in excess to help cope with the loss of his wife. He eventually did reach out to CPS for help, as he felt his girls deserved a better life than the one he could provide at that moment. 

During the initial interviews with the girls, they expressed to their new caseworker that they would cry themselves to sleep due to having anxiety about their current living situation. They were living in their truck and sometimes would go without food and showers. This led to Sheila being picked on in school because of her appearance and hygiene, which then led her to self-harming. 
Dorothy and Sheila were soon placed with relatives and things seemed to be going well. The girls were in counseling, they had endless warm meals, a room to sleep in, and were surrounded by their loved ones; but the girls were still dealing with the loss of their mother and now being away from their father. Sheila started to exhibit some behavioral issues that the family was not equipped to deal with. She unfortunately had to be removed and was placed in a shelter, while CPS searched for more family members or a foster home. Not long after Sheila was moved, Dorothy was also removed from their family and placed in a foster home.  

Meanwhile, their father did not successfully make the changes he needed to be reunified with his girls. He decided to sign over his rights in the best interest of his daughters. 

They did have an advocate by their side during these changes, Linda Wilson. She was assigned to this case in September 2018. While placed with family, Linda would keep in contact monthly, sometimes weekly, to ensure the placement was a safe and stable one. She worked with the caseworker and Family Tapestry to make sure the best placements were being chosen for the girls. Although the girls have changed placements multiple times, had multiple caseworkers, and have been separated from each other, Linda has been consistently with them through it all. Linda does not miss a holiday or birthday. She would make sure they saw each other and had sibling visits as often as allowed. This experience for them would not have been the same without her. 
It has been almost three years from the time they were brought into foster care. They have been separated from each other for years now, only seeing each other during visits and some overnight stays. Finally, CPS found one foster home that would love to adopt both girls. They have now been placed together with a foster family since early February 2021. Sheila and Dorothy are enjoying their new home and look forward to new beginnings. 

Although, this chapter in their life has not yet come to an end, everyone involved is still working hard to make sure they have the best outcome possible. The girls can be sure that Linda, their CASA, will do everything in her power to make sure that they have a happy ending. 

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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