Retiring Advocate Spotlights: Tom & Noelle
Tom Nolan & Noelle Manasco
This month we have two tenured volunteers that will be retiring from their CASA duties. Both have made huge impacts on our community and the children that they have served. We wanted to recognize and thank them both for all that they have done as CASA volunteers.
Tom Nolan became a CASA volunteer in July 2013. In his seven years of advocacy as a CASA volunteer, he has worked thirteen cases, and served at least 35 children. It was not uncommon for him to spend his entire weekend visiting the children in their multiple placements.
CASA supervisor, Maureen, regarded Tom as one of her “go to” advocates for the most complex and challenging cases, and he always rose to the occasion. He always said yes when asked to take on another case, knowing that his voice and fierce advocacy could help another child and make a positive difference in their future.
Tom would also often talk to new volunteers in training to share his experiences of what it was like to be a CASA, and to offer guidance and inspiration. In typical Tom fashion, he wouldn’t bring attention to himself concerning the impacts he made throughout his journey, but regardless the positive change he brought into the lives of his CASA kids spoke for itself.
Tom is highly regarded by both judges in the Children’s Court, attorneys, CPS caseworkers, and everyone at CASA. He will be missed, but his advocacy lives on in the lives of the children he helped.
Noelle Manasco was sworn in as a volunteer August 2011. During her eight-and-a-half-years as a CASA volunteer, she served over 27 children and youth on 12 cases. Her dedication to the children of Bexar County has been inspiring.
She served as the CASA for a sibling group of 7 children, and when she found out that the oldest was back in care, she immediately requested to be her CASA again. She was the constant in that youth’s life until she left care at 18.
She was also the CASA on another case where the children were reunified, but unfortunately came back into the system. She also returned as the CASA on that case and the children were so happy to see her again.
Noelle was always able to get all of the parties in the same room to work together to make decisions and ensure that everyone was on the same page. She has also been very active in the foster care community and worked hard to not only improve the lives of the children she served but also the foster care system overall. Thank you Noelle, you will be missed.
At CASA, our goal is to serve 100% of the children and families in need experiencing foster care and strong community partnerships help make that possible.
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.
