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: 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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