Story of Hope: Michelle Hilderbrand

Michelle Hilderbrand took on the case in August 2023, involving a child whose mother, recently exiting CPS care, was re-entering the system due to instability and substance use while pregnant with her second child. Initially, the child was placed with a kinship caregiver, and Michelle quickly began offering her support to the family.


Throughout the case, Michelle maintained consistent communication with the caregivers, CPS caseworker, and mother, ensuring the child received necessary services and maintained regular visits with the mother. When the child's initial placement was disrupted and they were moved to a new foster home, Michelle accompanied the CPS caseworker to provide a familiar presence during the transition.


Shortly after the child’s move, the mother’s attorney requested the child's return, as the mother was now in a more stable placement, Michelle was supportive of reunification. Upon the child's successful reunification with the mother, Michelle assisted in re-establishing Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services and provided ongoing support and encouragement to the mother throughout her second pregnancy.

As the mother prepared for hospitalization to give birth, Michelle advocated for a family member to temporarily care for the child, rather than an additional placement with a different relative suggested by CPS. This advocacy helped the child avoid yet another transition.


Michelle continues to actively engage both parents, encouraging them to complete their required services and bridging communication gaps between all involved parties, including the parents' attorneys, the child’s attorney, placement staff, and the child’s daycare.


Her dedicated support remains crucial in guiding this family towards a successful reunification.

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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