2026 Texas CASA Conference

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2026 Texas CASA Conference:
Advocacy in Motion: Moving with Purpose and Heart

We are excited to be going back to San Marcos for the annual Texas CASA Conference on September 9-11, 2026! It’s been over a decade since we’ve been there, and we are happy to be able to enjoy their newly renovated convention center and all the new things the city has to offer. In addition to its growth, San Marcos was officially named a Bird City Texas community in January 2025 by Audubon Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife.

To celebrate the city’s new Bird City Texas designation, we chose the hummingbird as a central element to this year’s theme. Just as the hummingbird’s presence symbolizes the strength to endure and the promise of renewal, CASA programs embody a commitment to helping children overcome hardship and move toward safety, healing, and a brighter future.

Read about all of the workshops and speakers below so you can start planning your conference experience. Use the Workshop Selection Sheet to help you prepare for registration, which opens July 8. Workshops are available on a first-come, first-served basis and you must be registered for a session in order to attend that session onsite. General Sessions are automatically included in your registration.

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Dual Institute
Pt. 1: Advocacy That Heals: Leading With Heart & Connection
Pt. 2: Strengthening CASA Supervisors: Reducing Leadership Load to Improve Advocate Support and Retention

Part 1 – This session equips CASA leaders with best practices to supervise, support, and retain volunteers through effective onboarding, coaching, and meaningful engagement. Learn how to navigate ethical dilemmas, secondary trauma, and difficult case outcomes while strengthening volunteer resilience. Explore tools for case management, documentation, and communication, alongside strategies for recognition, feedback, and leadership development—creating a culture where advocates feel supported, valued, and inspired to stay and make lasting impact. 

Featuring Chauntae Hollins, Leadership Performance Strategist, Chauntology Speaks, LLC

Part 2 – CASA supervisors support advocates through complex cases, difficult hearings, and emotionally demanding work—but the leadership strain they carry often goes unseen. This session introduces Leadership Load, a framework that examines the structural and emotional demands placed on those who support advocates.

Participants will explore how hidden strain affects supervisor capacity, volunteer retention, and program sustainability, and identify system‑level strategies that strengthen supervisor support and protect the leaders who sustain CASA advocacy.

Featuring Rondregus Underwood, Speaker/Author/Foster Care Advocate, iAmMrU.com

Chauntae Hollins is a Leadership Performance Strategist who helps mission‑driven organizations reduce leadership load, strengthen supervisor capacity, and redesign systems that quietly drain performance and retention. She also serves as a CASA Supervisor and Team Lead, supporting supervisors navigating complex child welfare cases and the emotional and structural demands of advocacy. Blending strategic insight with frontline experience, Chauntae delivers practical, system‑level solutions that protect supervisor capacity and strengthen volunteer advocacy.

Rondregus “Mr.U” Underwood is an empowerment speaker, foster care advocate, and transformational leader who turned his journey through the foster care system into a mission of impact. Aging out at 18, he now equips youth and professionals with tools for confidence, purpose, and leadership. Through powerful storytelling, he helps CASA volunteers better understand the hearts behind the cases—turning compassion into life-changing advocacy and lasting impact.

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Preparing for the 90th Legislative Session – How to Wrangle Texas CASA’s Policy Priorities into Action

Are you ready to amplify the voices of children with our legislators? It’s time to saddle up for the 90th Legislative Session! Building on the CASA Story, the Public Policy team will share legislative priorities, informed by the CASA network’s input, as well as the latest updates on interim charges and Sunset Review. Join us for engaging conversation, small group discussion, and peer learning as we get ready for action. 

Featuring Ana O’Quin, Public Policy Director, Texas CASA

Ana is the Public Policy Director for Texas CASA. She is passionate about bringing lived experience to the Capitol. Ana graduated from Baylor with her BSW and from UT with her MSW. She has three legislative sessions of experience, starting with NAMI Texas in the 87th legislature. Most recently, Ana was Girls Empowerment Network’s Advocacy Program Manager, where she led their legislative work in the 88th and 89th legislatures.

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Access, Advocate, Support: A Guide to Special Education and 504 Plans for Youth

Supporting your CASA youth in school can feel overwhelming—but you’re not alone, and you can make a real impact. When challenges arise, knowing how to advocate matters. Many youth qualify for 504 Plans or IEPs—do you know how to access them? This interactive session will equip you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to ask the right questions, unlock support, and help your youth thrive in school and beyond.  

Featuring Christy Balraj, Regional Coordinator, Partners Resource Network

Christy was sworn in as a CASA volunteer in Tarrant County in 2019 and joined Partners Resource Network as a Regional Coordinator in 2021. She found it is truly an honor to walk alongside parents and youth as they navigate some of life’s most challenging moments.

After 30 years in the school system advocating for students and staff, Christy found that her passion for this work did not end with retirement. Instead, it led her to new opportunities to continue serving. Through her work with CASA and Partners Resource Network, she is grateful to carry forward her mission—empowering parents and youth to find their voice, understand their rights, and become confident, effective advocates for themselves and their children.

She believes that every child deserves to be seen, supported, and given the opportunity to succeed, and is committed to helping make that a reality.

Lacey and Skylar

Fostering Safety – Strategies for Creating Safety and Connection Amongst the Chaos

A child’s CASA is a key member of their team. Although only one voice amongst many, the voice of CASA can be a powerful force in encouraging communication, creating connection, and facilitating collaboration to foster safety in a child’s life. In this session, the goal is to provide meaningful insights and strategies on how to effectively build a culture of safety and cooperation around each child. 

Featuring Lacey Evans, LCSW-S, Lacey Evans Counseling And Consulting, LLC and Skylar Lott, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Lacey Evans is a dedicated Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience spanning direct care, clinical practice, and organizational leadership. Lacey has worked in various mental health and juvenile justice settings, building programs and leaders to ensure safe, therapeutic environments for children and adolescents.

In her personal life, Lacey has been a Licensed Therapeutic Foster parent for over a decade, providing a safe home for dozens of children.

Skylar Lott is a devoted Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, TBRI practitioner, and Therapeutic foster parent. Skylar has over a decade of experience as a recreational therapist in direct practice and as an organizational leader in program development for a variety of clients. In all facets of career and life, Skylar displays a passion for facilitating healing and connection through play.

During down time, she enjoys spending time with her Great Danes and creating new games!

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Opening General Session

MelissaRoshan, known to audiences worldwide as MelRo, is an internationally recognized speaker, trauma-informed educator, professional model, and fierce advocate for youth. Her life is a powerful testament to resilience, reinvention, and the radical possibility of choosing light in the face of darkness.

Born into crisis, raised in chaos, and shaped by profound adversity, MelRo has transformed her scars into a global mission to help others rise. Her story and her work have been featured on CNN, The Today Show, TEDx, OWN, NBC, Cosmopolitan, Harvard.com, and stages across the country.

Today, she empowers youth and the adults who guide them, helping young people reclaim their identity, rebuild their sense of self, and lead themselves with intention and purpose.

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Dr. Elizabeth Ruiz square graphics

Trauma-Informed Advocacy: Building Trust, Strength-Based Language & Emotional Intelligence in CASA Work

CASA advocates often encounter trauma-driven behaviors, resistance, and complex family dynamics. This interactive session equips volunteers and staff with trauma-informed communication tools rooted in emotional intelligence and strength-based language. Participants will learn how trauma shows up in behavior, how to build trust without overstepping boundaries, and how to advocate effectively while preserving dignity. Attendees will leave with practical scripts, documentation strategies, and real-world tools they can implement immediately.

Featuring Dr. Elizabeth Ruiz, Founder, Healing Through Action

Elizabeth Ruiz is a leadership researcher, author, and nonprofit founder dedicated to strengthening advocacy through emotional intelligence and trauma-informed practice. As a CASA volunteer and survivor advocate, she combines lived experience with evidence-based leadership strategies to equip volunteers and organizations with practical tools that improve outcomes for children and families. She is the founder of Healing Through Action and a nationally recognized speaker on trauma-informed leadership and advocacy.

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Enhanced Advocacy Impact Tools – Practical and Proven to Increase Positive Outcomes

This workshop proposal will feature and provide tools to strengthen Education Advocacy, Family Engagement Advocacy, and Youth Transitioning to Adulthood through a focus of practical day-to-day activities. By equipping staff and volunteers with enhanced education tools a child’s educational needs will be identified, supported and met. Enhanced family engagement is critical to building supportive networks that last beyond the child protection system. Innovative youth advocacy efforts result in higher success of youth transitions.

Featuring Kate Sonnier, Program Manager, Lauren Davis, Collaborative Family Engagement Coordinator, and Amelia Smith, Advocate Supervisor, all of CASA of Galveston County

Kate Sonnier is the education program manager for CASA of Galveston County and has been with CASA for 4 years. She began as an advocate and quickly found out that CASA is where she wanted to start her career. On staff, she started off as an advocate supervisor and then began taking over the role for subject matter expert in educational advocacy. She ensures educational advocacy is highlighted, purposeful, and improves academic outcomes for the children they serve.

Lauren Davis is the Collaborative Family Engagement Coordinator for CASA of Galveston County and has been with the organization for nearing 2 years. Her role within the organization is to strengthen Collaborative Family Engagement practices within child advocacy efforts. Her work focuses on equipping volunteers and supervisors with practical tools to engage families, identify support networks, and improve outcomes for children involved experiencing foster care. She supports the integration of CFE into everyday advocacy through training, structured family searches, and consistent engagement strategies.

Amelia Smith has been with CASA for three years, serving as a CASA Supervisor and the go-to resource for Youth Aging Out of Care. Prior to CASA, she worked for two years as the Lead Cottage Parent at a GRO foster care facility in Texas and for six years as a Guardian ad Litem in Florida. She also brings the perspective of someone who experienced being a teenager in foster care firsthand. With both personal and professional experience in the child welfare system, she comes with a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to supporting youth in care.

Melissa and Lydia

Restoring Regulation: Staying Connected in Moments of Big Emotions, Building Trust and Felt-Safety

Working with children with difficult histories can bring moments of challenging behaviors. Whether it’s a phone call from a crying child, or a behavioral escalation in public, it’s imperative that we have tools to stay connected, meet needs and bring calm to a child’s nervous system. Join us for a practical hands-on workshop that offers key insights into the inner workings of children with big emotions, and gives real strategies for calming the emotional storm.

Featuring Melissa Burdett, Executive Director, Rooted Families Rooted Communities and Lydia McCraw, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate and TBRI Practitioner

As a foster/adoptive mother of five and a TBRI practitioner, Melissa co- founded Rooted Families Rooted Communities with the goal of creating secure, stable, home environments for children by equipping and supporting caregivers and professionals.

With her M.S. in Developmental Trauma from TCU, Melissa has a deep understanding of the neurobiology of trauma and regulation which she has applied in residential settings at ACH for the past three years.

Lydia is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate and TBRI Practitioner with experience supporting children impacted by trauma. She holds a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling and is passionate about teaching emotional regulation, coping skills, and connection through trauma-informed care. Her experiences in residential care, day camp intensives and therapeutic settings have refined her skills in connection and regulation with children with big behaviors.

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Leading with Connection

Effective leadership doesn’t begin with strategy — it begins with trust. In this dynamic 75-minute session, explore how CASA programs can build stronger teams, deepen community impact, and drive organizational growth by leading with intentional connection. From establishing a trust-based agency structure to creating vision, strategy, and accountability, participants will walk away with simple, powerful tools to amplify their greatest strength — the relationships they already have.

Featuring Metoyer Martin, Chief Program Officer, Casey Davis, Community Engagement Director, and Aly Ferrante, CASA Program Director, all of Child Advocates Of Fort Bend

Metoyer Martin is Chief Program Officer at Child Advocates of Fort Bend, providing strategic leadership for CASA, the Children’s Advocacy Center, and Fort Bend County Child Sex Trafficking Care Coordination programs. She oversees program planning, assesses community needs, and ensures all initiatives align with trauma-informed practices. With over 25 years of experience, she previously served as CASA Program Director. She holds an MSW from the University of Houston and a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University and is a TBRI Practitioner.

As Community Engagement Director for Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB), Casey Davis helps champion the needs of abused and neglected children. Since joining CAFB in 2009, she has leveraged her corporate finance and investment banking background to transition into full-time advocacy.

A certified TBRI® Practitioner with a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Houston, Casey focuses on child-centered outcomes within the welfare system. She is a married mother of three boys.

Aly serves as the CASA Program Director at Child Advocates of Fort Bend, bringing over a decade of dedication to the organization. Since joining in 2011, she has held multiple leadership roles, driven by her passion for advocating for youth in the child welfare system. A trained TBRI Practitioner, Aly has worked to implement trauma-informed care, weaving connection into innovative programming and initiatives, ensuring every child served is supported, empowered, and given the opportunity to thrive.

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The Science of ACEs: Unpacking Childhood Adversities

This training is grounded in research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and informed by Trust Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) principles. Participants will explore how trauma and chronic stress impact behavior, development, and relationships for children in the child welfare system. This training explores Positive Childhood Experiences and protective factors that build resilience, equipping CASA volunteers with trauma informed, relationship-based strategies to support regulation, felt safety, and effective advocacy that promotes healing and long-term well-being.

Featuring Francine Stanfield, Director Of Training & Tbri® Community Engagement, Child Advocates Of Montgomery County

Francine Stanfield has spent the past ten years walking alongside children and families in the child welfare system. She began as a volunteer CASA Advocate, and has now been on staff for five years with Child Advocates of Montgomery County. Francine is a Trust‑Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) Practitioner and serves as Director of Training and TBRI® Community Education. She is also a Certified ACEs Trainer and a LOVE146 Not a Number anti‑trafficking training facilitator.

Cortney and Nicole

From System Harm to Healing: Restorative Advocacy for Transition-Age Youth

Transition-age youth in foster care often navigate trauma, system disruption, and the complexities of preparing for adulthood. CASA leaders, staff and volunteers play critical roles in building consistent relationships, advocating across systems, and supporting youth voices. This interactive session equips participants with restorative, trust-centered strategies to strengthen communication, navigate challenging behaviors, and support successful transitions. Participants will leave with practical tools they can apply in advocacy, court preparation, and everyday interactions with youth and families.

Featuring Cortney Jones, Executive Director, and Dr. Nicole Cummings-Lewis, Restorative Manager, both of Change 1.

Cortney Jones, MSW, is Founder and Executive Director of Change 1, advancing systems change and supporting foster care alumni through mentorship and advocacy. With lived experience and 18+ years in social work, her expertise spans policy, housing, and trauma-informed care. Appointed to the Family and Protective Services Council, she champions equity and lived experience in child welfare. Cortney is also a speaker, author, and movement builder committed to helping young people and families thrive.

Dr. E. Nicole Cummings-Lewis is an educator and facilitator with over 20 years of experience supporting coalitions, organizations, and leaders in building equitable, people-centered systems. She specializes in developing advisory councils and integrating community voice into strategy and decision-making through human-centered and liberatory design. Grounded in restorative practices, Nicole creates spaces where leaders can navigate complexity, build trust, and align their work with purpose, care, and authentic connection.

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From Outreach to Oath: Building a Record-Breaking CASA Volunteer Pipeline

CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties will share the outreach strategies, community partnerships, and engagement methods that led to a record-breaking year in volunteer recruitment. This interactive session combines practical tools, real-world examples, and hands-on activities to help attendees strengthen their own volunteer pipeline from first community contact to advocate oath. Participants will leave with actionable ideas for outreach, retention, and conversion strategies that inspire volunteers to step up for children in need

Featuring Madalyn Ramos, Director of Volunteer Engagement and Corinne Donnelly, Director of Communications & Fund Development, both of CASA of Bell & Coryell Counties

Maddy’s journey with CASA began as volunteer in November 2023, where she worked closely with a family and supported their reunification after 24 months. In September 2024, she joined CASA as a staff member, continuing my commitment to serving children and families and strengthening volunteer engagement.

Maddy graduated from University of Mary Hardin–Baylor with a degree in psychology, which informs her approach to working with both children and advocates. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and exercising.

Corinne is the Marketing and Outreach Coordinator for CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties, where she has the privilege of helping build community partnerships and support volunteer recruitment efforts that serve the children in her community. Before joining CASA, she worked with special needs children in foster care, an experience that strengthened her passion for advocacy and service.

She graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a degree in Public Health and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. Her background in public health has shaped her commitment to serving children and families, and Corinne enjoys connecting with others to build partnerships that help expand CASA’s reach and impact.

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Growing Together: Maximizing the CASA-SSCC Partnership

Whether or not your region has shifted to Community-Based Care yet, challenges and opportunities will present themselves. Join us for this session as we evaluate the unique strengths and areas of growth for your program, as it relates to transitioning to Community-Based Care, and how best to partner with the SSCC for community engagement and volunteer recruitment efforts.

Featuring Jade Dimitri, Communications Manager, CASA of Central Texas and Dr. Kane Jaggers, Vice President of Community Enrichment, SJRC

Jade Dimitri grew up in Lubbock and graduated from Texas Tech in 2007. She earned a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Texas State in 2009 and taught elementary school for five years. Since 2017, Jade has served CASA of Central Texas as both staff and volunteer, holding roles including Administrative Coordinator, Casework Supervisor, and Community Engagement Manager. She now works as Communications Manager and lives in New Braunfels with her husband, daughter, and dog.

Dr. Kane Jaggers is a leader in child and family wellbeing, focused on trauma-informed care and systems leadership. With experience in social work, nonprofit management, and program development, she has strengthened services for children and families through collaboration and leadership. An advocate for professional development, she mentors future social workers as an Adjunct Faculty Liaison and Field Instructor. She earned her Doctorate in Social Work and Dr. Jaggers remains committed to advancing improvements in child welfare.

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Meeting Families Where They Are: Trust, Respect, and Partnership in Child Welfare

This session invites CASA volunteers and staff to look beyond labels and focus on the humanity of the families they serve. Grounded in the Golden Rule, it explores how trust, respect, and authentic partnership grow through intentional listening, clear communication, and normalizing families’ experiences. Participants will learn practical strategies to build honest relationships, support safe and timely reunification, and create meaningful changes through everyday interactions. 

Featuring Amy Harding, Outreach Director, and Judy Houston, Master Trainer, both of Hill Country CASA

Amy Harding is dedicated to providing passionate advocates for abused and neglected children in the Hill Country. She is committed to providing quality training and support for community volunteers who serve as court-appointed GALS. Amy joined HCCASA in 2008 as a Case Supervisor.

Judy Houston joined HCCASA as the Master Trainer in January 2016, following her retirement from TDFPS, where she worked for 30 years in multiple capacities. Judy and Amy work together to produce a high-quality annual training series for HCCASAs.

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Weaving the practice of CFE Across All Facets of Casework and Volunteer Support

Viewing the work of CASA through the lens of CFE to strengthen and grow CFE practices. This session offers insight into how we reframed the work our Advocates are already doing through a CFE practice lens. Sharing useful tips about how we weaved CFE concepts and practices across all phases of case management, from new case to case closure, AND throughout all Advocate training, starting with Pre Service.

Featuring Layla Beaty, Senior Volunteer Coordinator and CFE Specialist, Nikki Morris, Volunteer Education Manager, and Francesca Inman, Advocacy Manager, all of CASA of Collin County

Layla has worked in the child welfare space for 12 years, serving as a CVS worker for DFPS for 5 years before joining the CASA of Collin County Staff in 2018. She currently serves as the Sr. Volunteer Coordinator and CFE Specialist, serving in this role for approximately 3 years. Layla provides next steps guidance to Staff and Volunteers as well as providing CFE consult and direction.

Nikki joined the CASA of Collin County Staff in 2016, serving as a Volunteer Supervisor/Coordinator, becoming the Senior Volunteer Coordinator and CFE Specialist. Nikki currently serves as the Volunteer Education Manager focusing on training, supporting Staff and Volunteers to effectively advocate for children and families.

Francesca has nearly 20 years of experience in child welfare and youth services, spanning direct service, case supervision, and program leadership. She began her work at City House, Inc., where she held multiple roles providing direct care as well as program development and coordination for foster, homeless, and at-risk youth. Since joining CASA of Collin County in 2013, Francesca has served in progressively advancing roles, including Permanency Specialist, Casework Supervisor, and Advocacy Manager. In her current role, she supports and develops Volunteer Coordinators, oversees advocacy efforts, and collaborates with legal and community stakeholders to improve outcomes for children and families involved in the foster care system.

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Exit UP: Sustaining Support for Youth After Foster Care

Exit UP (Unlimited Potential) is Dallas CASA’s program designed to support youth after they exit foster care by providing resources and accountability while fostering existing CASA‑youth relationships. While the program primarily focuses on youth aging out of care, its principles and framework are adaptable for youth of any age who are exiting or have exited the system. This session explores how CASA programs can extend advocacy beyond case closure to promote stability, independence, and success.

Featuring Chad Frymire, Director Of Public Policy, and Emily Dang, Dallas CASA Supervisor/Youth Independence Support Specialist, both of Dallas CASA

Chad Frymire is the Director of Public Policy at Dallas CASA, where he has served for 18 years. He has led the North Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking as President for 14 years and has been involved with the Office of the Governor’s Care Coordination MDT since its inception. Mr. Frymire serves on several advisory bodies, including the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center Care Coordination Advisory Board, the Texas Attorney General’s Anti-Trafficking Task Force, and the City of Dallas Mayor’s Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Advisory Council.

He serves on the boards of the North Foster Care Consortium and Your Nonprofit Controller, and leads Dallas CASA’s legislative advocacy initiatives. In addition, Mr. Frymire spearheads National Adoption Day for Dallas County.

Emily Dang brings more than 13 years of service to Dallas CASA, where she serves as a Supervisor and Traveler. As a Youth Independence Support Specialist, she trains advocates and supports youth transitioning out of care. She also contributes to ExitUP, which offers mentorship and ongoing support to young adults and their advocates after foster care.

Emily serves as co-chair of the Dallas County Child Abuse Prevention Coalition (CAPCO) and on several advisory and review bodies, including UNT’s PUSH Program Advisory Council, Education Reach for Texans Regional Breakout Group, and both the DFPS Regional and Dallas County Child Death Review teams.

Before joining Dallas CASA, Emily spent eight years with the Department of Family and Protective Services as a CPS caseworker and later as a legal liaison with the District Attorney’s Office.

Mark Browning

Planned Giving to Build Program Resources

Attendees will learn methods to build their future pipeline of financial support via planned gifts such as bequests, life insurance and beneficiary designation gifts. In addition, they will take away practical marketing ideas on how to put a planned giving program in place for their local CASA program. Last, they will learn how to perpetuate financial support from their large current supporters.

Featuring Mr. Mark Browning, Founder, CASA of the Brazos Valley Foundation Inc.

Mark Browning brings thirty-five years of trust and estate experience with Texas banking organizations and the Texas A&M Foundation.. He is a graduate of Texas A&M with a B.B.A. in Finance. He holds the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (C.T.F.A.) professional designation.

Mark volunteers as Treasurer at the CASA Brazos Valley Foundation. He guest lectures on financial and development topics at Angelina College Nonprofit Leadership Center, at Texas A&M and the Texas Education Foundation Network.

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Closing General Session

With more than 15 years of research into the science of hope and more than 20 years as a university professor, Chan Hellman, Ph.D., focuses on sharing the science and power of hope in our ability to overcome trauma and thrive in life. He has worked with numerous human service organizations, corporations, state agencies, school districts and national coalitions to create hope-centered strategic plans.

Dr. Hellman is widely recognized as one of the leading hope scholars in the world. Based upon his evidence-backed research in the science of hope, his Hope Centered curriculum is a registered copyright under the trademark Hope Centered and Trauma Informed®.

He is the co-author of the best selling book “Hope Rising: How The Science of Hope Can Change Your Life”.

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