Goodbye to Sarah Crockett, Public Policy Director
After 11 years of incredible service, Public Policy Director Sarah Crockett will soon be leaving Texas CASA and starting a new adventure. We want to take this opportunity to celebrate her outstanding contributions, dedication, skill and passion she has shared with us throughout her tenure. Hear directly from Sarah about her remarkable journey below.
“I began my journey with CASA as a volunteer for CASA of Travis County in 2011. In 2014, I joined Texas CASA as a Public Policy Coordinator, and I now leave as both a volunteer and the Director of Public Policy. Over the years, I’ve learned so much, had a lot of fun, and navigated more than a few challenges and frustrations.
I’m incredibly proud of what the Public Policy team has accomplished during my time at Texas CASA – passing normalcy legislation, establishing an independent ombudsman for children and youth in foster care, greatly expanding the powers and duties of GALs, strengthening supports and funding for older youth, and increasing state investment in CASA by millions of dollars over the last decade.
When I started at Texas CASA, Community-Based Care didn’t exist, foster care providers were exclusively funded through the Level of Care system, and there was no ruling in the Federal Lawsuit. I’m proud to have spent countless hours helping to shape and strengthen the many systemic changes the CASA network has faced, even when we couldn’t prevent the changes themselves.
During my years at Texas CASA, I also got married, had two children, and lived through a global pandemic. I’ve learned so much from the mentors and friends I’ve gained along the way, and I carry with me memories that will last a lifetime.
As I look toward the next phase of my career, I’m profoundly grateful for the early mornings and late nights at the Capitol, the many trainings and conferences I presented at or attended, the publications I authored, the media stories I contributed to, and most importantly, the lifelong friendships I’ve made.
As I begin this next chapter, I will continue to champion Texas CASA both personally and professionally. I hope our paths will continue to cross in my new role as Senior Executive Policy Advisor at the Health and Human Services Commission.”
Sarah appears on KXAN in 2022 to discuss the importance of CASA volunteers
Sarah testifies in support of important child welfare legislation (top photo is the 89th legislative session and bottom photo is the 87th legislative session)
Sarah stands with two young people who experienced foster care that she worked alongside to help advocate for normalcy legislation in 2015
Sarah (middle) matching with Chief External Relations Officer Larissa Cartwright (left) and Public Policy Specialist Stephanie Battaglia (right)
Sarah (right) with Public Policy Specialist Stephanie Battaglia at the 2024 Texas CASA Conference
Sarah (second from left) stands with Representative Ann Johnson and other child welfare advocates after testifying in support of legislation to prevent courts from dismissing cases while a child in foster care is missing
During the 11 years Sarah has spent with us, she has made significant contributions to the child welfare space, the CASA mission and, most importantly, to children and families in Texas. Sarah’s leadership skyrocketed our advocacy efforts, expanded our partnerships across child welfare agencies and elevated our voice on key policy issues for over a decade. Words cannot describe how grateful we are for the heart, expertise and integrity she brought to this position. We know her impact will continue to shape our work for years to come.
