For Marte Hersey, the decision to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in foster care began years before she officially volunteered. While working at UTMB Health , she encountered children in the pediatric unit who were in Child Protective Services custody, witnessing their difficult circumstances and the many professionals involved in their care.

“We had many children in CPS custody, so I met a lot of caseworkers; then one day, there were women who told me they were CASAs,” Hersey said. “I had never heard of CASA, but I could tell they were advocating for the child. I kept that in mind, and after I retired, I signed up.”

Since then, Hersey’s dedication has been recognized with CASA of Galveston County’s 2025 Advocate of the Year award.

Serving children of all ages

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