Story of Hope: Lynn Wilson

Lynn Wilson swore in as an advocate on February 10th, 2023, and signed on to Ivy and Marcus’ case, in April. Ivy and Marcus, ages three and one, entered foster care in March of 2023 due to concerns of severe physical neglect and neglectful supervision by their mother. The children were born out of state and the mother had previously been involved with Child Protective Services in Arizona and Nevada.

 

Lynn has been an unwavering presence in the lives of these young children. Since the case began, Ivy and Marcus have endured several challenges including four placement changes. When Ivy and Marcus were placed in a different foster home outside of San Antonio, Lynn consistently made the 7- hour round trip drive to see them. Lynn is one of the only familiar faces Ivy and Marcus know and can consistently count on.

 

Lynn's involvement goes well beyond visiting the children. This case was further complicated by the fact that the children were born out of state and when they were brought into care had no identifying documentation such as birth certificates. The case was also struck by several worker changes and the kiddos’ needs were in danger of falling through the cracks. Lynn diligently contacted various stakeholders to secure essential information to include learning how to request the kiddo’s birth certificates. She ensured Ivy and Marcus’ dental, and medical appointments were scheduled. She also reached out to different community resources to help support a kinship placement in town so that Ivy and Marcus wouldn’t have to be sent to yet another foster home.

 

When the children were placed with relatives in November of 2023, Lynn continued to support the children and the placement by assisting with transportation and even providing fresh fruit for Ivy and Marcus, so they had access to healthy snacks.  For their birthdays, Lynn brought cupcakes to their daycare, so that Ivy and Marcus could experience a sense of normalcy by celebrating with their peers.

 

This case is far from over and as of right now Ivy and Marcus have not found their forever home. Thankfully Lynn is right there advocating for their needs every step of the way.

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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