Story of Hope: Karin Kohler

Advocate Karin Kohler was assigned a sibling group of two in March of 2022. The children were initially removed due to emotional abuse and neglectful supervision. The children were 14 and 10 years old and placed in a relative home. Karin started to gather medical documentation for all children due to the history of psychiatric hospitalizations. Due to their hospitalizations, they had missed a great amount of school. Karin reached out to the school to ensure the children were attending school regularly and ensure that appropriate educational accommodations were in place. The children had many tardies and absences. The concerns were noted in her court report and Judge Burley assigned an Educational Surrogate.

She continued to reach out to the school regularly to be kept up to date on their progress and attendance. Unfortunately, the children were removed from their placement and placed with other relatives. Karin was able to secure bunk beds for the new placement to help ensure the placement would be appropriate and the children would have appropriate sleeping arrangements. Although she was able to secure and deliver school supplies to the children prior to the placement change, the children were not able to move with their supplies that had been provided previously. Karin was quick to arrange with her supervisor to pick up new supplies because school for the children was starting the next day and did not have anything at the time.

Shortly after school started in August 2022 the oldest child was hospitalized again and required a 5-week outpatient stay. Once she was able to return to her school Karin was meeting with the school guidance counselor to ensure that the child’s 504 accommodations had transferred and was in place. Karin soon learned that the school was not aware of her previous 504 accommodations. She was able to get a 504 scheduled within 2 weeks.

Karin has been a great advocate focusing on educational and safety advocacy for both children and has been sure to keep everyone informed for the children’s best interest.

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Story of Hope: Staff Advocate Yvonne and Zoe

By bfines • February 17, 2026

In December 2024, the Department requested TMC for a youth, Zoe, who was found to be homeless after both parents refused to accept parental responsibility. The mother had an extensive CPS history, and the alleged father had CPS history and a criminal history. While in care, life became challenging as Zoe made decisions that jeopardized placement; choosing to skip school, run away from placement, and get arrested for a misdemeanor charge. As a result of these behaviors, the Department placed Zoe in a facility out of state. In August 2025, Staff Advocate, Yvonne, accepted the Crossover Court Case involving Zoe. During the initial Zoom meeting between Yvonne and Zoe, the youth shared her love for sketching, singing, and making people smile. Zoe further shared her hopes and dreams with Yvonne; stating that if parental rights were terminated, she hopes to be adopted by a loving family and wants to pursue her dream of having a career in law enforcement. Recently, Yvonne had the opportunity to visit Zoe at her out-of-state placement, where their conversations were not limited by time on a video call. When Yvonne met Zoe in person, she shared that she couldn’t sleep the morning of Yvonne’s arrival because she feared that Yvonne would be another adult who did not show up for her. Yvonne was able to lay that worry to rest by simply keeping her word, a small act that means the world to the children CASA serves. During the visit, Zoe shared that she wanted to make her CASA proud by improving her school grades, staying out of trouble with peers at placement, and staying busy with extracurricular activities. Yvonne was happy to hear Zoe share her aspirations and encouraged Zoe to continue on this positive path. The conversations about Zoe’s day-to-day happenings in life led her to share the more traumatic events with Yvonne. Yvonne listened and provided a space for Zoe to share what she was comfortable with. Yvonne encouraged Zoe to continue processing her trauma and grief with her therapist and find peace, past the pain of being estranged from her family and individuals whom she trusted. Despite the setbacks Zoe has endured in efforts to restore family connections, Yvonne continues to show up and support Zoe in self-advocating for her educational and placement needs as she approaches adulthood. Zoe’s educational goal is to attend her senior prom and walk across the stage at a public high school to receive her diploma. Most importantly, Zoe hopes to be placed in a Texas foster home where she will be protected, loved, and trusted. Regardless of where life and the case takes Zoe, Yvonne will be there at every turn.

February Advocate Spotlight

By bfines • February 17, 2026

Maquisha Nunn

Story of Hope: Karin Kohler