January 2025

We invite you to meet Vanessa Temporetti, nominated by Lead Educational Advocacy Specialist Kristy O’Neal. Vanessa joined Child Advocates as a volunteer in 2024, and she is serving on three cases in each of our areas of advocacy: Child Welfare, Justice-Involved Youth, and Educational Advocacy.

“Vanessa excels at developing relationships and building trust, especially with the parents,” Kristy said. “When a child she serves has a need, she works with the family to meet that need. Recently, the child on her Educational Advocacy case needed attire for a musical concert. Not only did Vanessa go shopping with the child and his mom to find the right clothes, but she also found community resources to cover the costs.”

We asked Vanessa to share her experiences as an Advocate for children in our community.

Is there anything unique about your background that contributes to your approach to advocacy?

I was born and raised in Argentina and come from a middle-class family from the Patagonia region. I am the second of five children with two sisters and two twin brothers. I graduated law school in Buenos Aires in 1998. I also married my husband, a U.S. citizen, in 1998, and first moved to the United States in 2005. We lived in the northern United States for several years before spending a few years in Brazil. I then moved to Texas in 2016 where we have lived in The Woodlands for the last nine years. I became a U.S. citizen in 2021. I am also the proud mom of two daughters, who are 22 and 13 years old. Since moving to the U.S., I have also received my associate’s degree in sociology. Having a background from both a legal and sociological perspective gives me a more rounded view when dealing with advocacy work, which is my true passion.

How did you become interested in volunteering as an Advocate?

I have been a volunteer since 2005, first when we lived in Michigan and then in The Woodlands for different organizations. I stumbled across Child Advocates by chance when I was looking for other ways to help out in the community. The opportunity to be an Advocate piqued my interest as I saw it as a way to really make a difference. I believe that by having a personal connection with these children we can give them a fighting chance and not treat them as just another case.

Did you have any reservations about volunteering?

I was comfortable volunteering as it’s something I was accustomed to and is very rewarding for me.

Explain in your own words the work you do as a volunteer Advocate. Why is it essential for a child?

As an Advocate, we are able to help guide the children and their respective family members through every step of the process. This is important as we can amplify the voice, which they would otherwise not have in the systems, and increase the possibility of a positive outcome.

How did you decide to advocate for children in our Justice-Involved Youth and Educational Advocacy programs?

This was an easy choice, as sometimes these children just need a chance to succeed and someone who can help point the way.

Can you share how your Spanish-language skills have strengthened your advocacy work and benefited the children and families you serve?

Being a native Spanish speaker allows me to develop a closer relationship with the children and their families. This ultimately helps to build trust, which in turn also encourages them to express themselves more openly and to be more active in the overall process.

What has surprised you the most about advocacy?

I have been most surprised by the bravery displayed by the children. Given what some of them have been through and to think sometimes they are actually teaching us, is amazing.

What has been the most difficult aspect of volunteering as an Advocate? Most rewarding aspect of volunteering?

The most difficult part is to see young children being separated from their families when they don’t understand why. The flip side of that is the gratitude and happiness I see when helping and supporting the families.

What would you like the community to know about children involved in the juvenile justice system?

I would like the community to understand the hardships that some of these children go through and to know that perhaps things are not always as they appear on the surface. As such, all of these children deserve to be heard at the very least.

What have you learned about children in crisis through your advocacy?

I have learned how resilient these children are. I have also seen firsthand how some of the most trivial things, such as a hug or a toy, can change their entire demeanor for the better.

Is there a particular moment or memory that stands out for you?

One of my most memorable experiences was when one of the judges took us over to his private chambers and gave us the opportunity to walk through all the details of the case, which are not always fully understood via simple documents and proceedings. This made such a difference, and the child and his mother were overwhelmed that their story was being told more objectively and in a positive light.

Anything else you want to share about Child Advocates?

This has been such a wonderful experience. From the initial training to the people I interact with daily, I could not be more honored to be part of such an incredible organization.