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.

A Message from Child Advocates San Antonio on National CASA/GAL Funding Termination

By bfines • April 25, 2025
A Message from Child Advocates San Antonio on National CASA/GAL Funding Termination On April 24, 2025, the National CASA/GAL Association announced that its federal funding through the U.S. Department of Justice has been terminated. As a result, National CASA is suspending subaward disbursements, training programs, and technical assistance. The organization is actively appealing the decision and assessing what services it can continue to provide during this transition. Info from National CASA can be found here. We understand that this announcement may raise concerns in the community, and we want to provide reassurance and clarity regarding how this news affects Child Advocates San Antonio. First and foremost: There is no impact to our organization or our services. We are fully operational and remain committed to serving the children and families in our community with the same excellence, integrity, compassion, and commitment we have always shown. Here are key facts we want our supporters and the public to know: Our funding remains secure. Child Advocates San Antonio has a diverse and stable funding base that includes a healthy mix of public and private funding. No one funding stream exceeds 50% of our budget. You can access our recent financials HERE. Our stability comes from strong state support and our dedicated Bexar County community, which keeps Child Advocates San Antonio resilient and focused on serving children. We do not receive subawards from National CASA. The suspension of subaward disbursements has no bearing on our funding or ability to operate. Our training programs continue without interruption. Our comprehensive and high-quality Advocate training programs are fully intact. We do not require technical assistance from National CASA. Our team is experienced, well-resourced, and prepared to continue all programming. No cuts, no hiring freezes, no changes to our operations. We remain fully staffed and actively engaged in our mission to advocate for children in foster care. Our commitment to advocating for children in foster care is unwavering, and our services continue as usual. We want to be clear: Child Advocates San Antonio is strong, stable, and here to stay. CASA programs in Texas are strong, independent, and fully committed to children in foster care. While we’re aware of the situation with National CASA/GAL, it doesn’t impact the critical advocacy happening here. Our commitment is clear: we will stand with the children we serve—until they are safe, their voices are heard, and their futures are secure. Our focus, as always, is on advocating for the best interests of children and ensuring they have a voice in court. Public support at all levels, including individuals, ensures we remain strong, regardless of national developments. No matter what, our mission stays the same – every child deserves to be safe, cared for, and have their voice heard. CASA’s mission is as important as ever— children in foster care need advocates who will stand by them. Start your Advocate Journey today!

April Advocate Spotlight

By bfines • April 11, 2025
Brittany Coppage
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