January Advocate Spotlight

Nanette Hall

Advocate: Joseph Zlotkowski

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

I've been an advocate for 2 years. I first knew I wanted to be an advocate when I was working in a school district and a dear friend of mine retired and became a CASA. Our school district had so many foster kids and I saw first-hand how easily they were overlooked and missed out on opportunities. Listening to my friend talk about the importance of being an advocate gave me the desire to volunteer once I retired.


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

The most rewarding aspect of being an advocate is seeing my kids' eyes light up when they succeed at something or when they see they are seen by others. So often they can feel invisible and they light up when they are noticed. These small moments begin to add up so the kids begin to build greater confidence in themselves.


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

The greatest traits I continue to learn being an advocate is patience and understanding. Patience with myself and patience with the kids. I like to get things done and move things along. In this process, I am learning to slow myself down and understand things can take longer and the kids aren't always on top of things the way we might like them to be. I've continued to try different approaches to get the kids to take action, understanding the challenges they have faced in their lives that give them different priorities. Letting go of my expectations and working within the kids' needs and desires is helpful for me as I improve my patience.

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.

March Advocate Spotlight

By bfines • March 9, 2026
Johnathan Cobb
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