October Advocate Spotlight

Laura and Simeon Sutton

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

We became advocates in February 2019. We experienced some things in our extended family that made us re-evaluate how we were spending our time. As we considered our values, there was no question that CASA was the right organization for our volunteer commitment. Simeon filled out the volunteer application the same night he discovered CASA. We simply could not stand by when confronted with the needs of vulnerable children right here in our city.

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

We experienced the power and love of CASA while holding our CASA children during their moments of pain and fear. We held them when they cried at the end of parent visit, we held them when they were transported to a shelter, we held them when they were alone at the shelter, and we held them when they lashed out hitting and screaming. It has been an honor to advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable children in our community.

As a result of our advocacy, our CASA children avoided placement in another shelter and were instead placed with their grandmother who loved and cared for them. Our case had a happy ending with reunification with the children’s’ family.

During our most recent case, we did our best to locate our CASA baby’s biological mom and dad who were missing since the baby’s birth. We discovered contacts and placement options that CPS didn’t have the time or resources to find. In the end, our CASA baby was placed with a loving foster family, but knowing we left no stone unturned gave a level of comfort that every family option was pursued.

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

Very few organizations give you the opportunity to volunteer on the front line like CASA does. As an advocate, we directly interact with many of San Antonio’s most vulnerable and precious children.

As our city returns to “normal” life after COVID, the need in Bexar County has never been greater. Many children’s shelters have closed, and children struggle to find placement. As CASA advocates, we stand in the gap for these children and youth so they do not fall through the cracks. We give them a voice, look them in the eye and tell them they are seen and loved.

Also know that CASA is a first-class operation. Their relationship with the Court and the larger community is stellar. You are joining a highly respected organization in the city.

Being new to the world of social work and foster care, the CASA training was overwhelming – but excellent preparation for our role as advocates. The support from our advocate supervisor was above and beyond our expectations. Our supervisor was on call late at night and on the weekends to offer support and advice. Know that your supervisor is there to support you and that you are not alone.

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Become a CASA Volunteer Advocate

Story of Hope: Staff Advocate JoAnn

By bfines • October 15, 2025

In September 2024, the department first became involved with a family of five following allegations of substance abuse and medical neglect concerning the mother. Child Protective Investigations (CPI) initially sought to keep the family together by implementing a safety plan with fictive kin—a family the mother and children had met during their stay at Haven for Hope. The hope was that this new placement would provide stability for the children while keeping them safely with someone familiar. For a few weeks, it seemed to be working. But on October 29, 2024, the mother told the fictive kin she was going to retrieve her remaining belongings from Haven for Hope—and never returned. From November 2024 through February 2025, CPS continued its efforts to locate her while supporting the kinship placement and meeting the children’s needs. In January 2025, the kinship placement informed the department that she could no longer care for the youngest child, Ava, due to her severe behavioral needs. Faced with these challenges, the department made the difficult decision to file for removal to provide more comprehensive support for the children and the kinship caregivers. Ava was quickly placed in a foster home in February 2025, while her three brothers remained with fictive kin. Around this time, CASA Staff Advocate JoAnn Herring was assigned to the case. By April 2025, safety concerns prompted the immediate removal of the boys. They were placed in an emergency shelter while the department and JoAnn worked tirelessly to explore placing them with their sister in her foster home. Caring for four children is a big ask, especially for new foster parents, but with support from JoAnn and the department, the foster family rose to the challenge. By May 2025, all four siblings were finally reunited under one roof—a first major victory for this family. Even with the siblings together, challenges remained. The children had significant medical and educational needs. Michael, who had experienced medical neglect while in his mother’s care, was diagnosed with Stage 5 chronic kidney disease, requiring frequent doctor visits, hospital stays, and surgery. During these times, JoAnn visited the hospital regularly, offering support and encouragement to both Michael and his foster parents. JoAnn also worked closely with the department and foster family to ensure the other children—Ava, Mateo, and Leo—received the therapeutic and educational support they needed. Through Collaborative Family Engagement meetings, the team created a comprehensive plan addressing the children’s medical, educational, and therapeutic needs, with the goal of preventing placement disruption and ensuring the foster parents felt supported. Today, all four children are enrolled in school with 504 plans in place, and Michael has access to wrap-around medical services—another major triumph. The foster parents now feel confident in their ability to meet the children’s needs, and if the parents remain disengaged, the case may ultimately move toward termination. While that possibility is heartbreaking, the family has a permanent, loving home ready to care for them. Michael, though still facing significant medical challenges, has a strong team advocating for him every step of the way. This story is still unfolding, but it highlights the power of teamwork, advocacy, and dedication in helping children find stability, care, and hope. It’s a reminder of what can be achieved when community, department staff, and CASA advocates go above and beyond to support children and families in need.