Meet Our Newest Case Manager, Candiss!

Our tiny team just got bigger (and mightier)! We are so excited to introduce you to our newest Case Manager, Candiss Gray, who officially joined our team last month and has already brought creativity, wisdom, and joy to both our office and the clients she serves.

Originally from Michigan, she graduated from Baker College with a degree in Criminal Justice before making Texas her home. She has lived in Austin for the past 14 years and brings more than a decade of experience in community service and social work to this role.

Before joining Red Oak Hope, Candiss spent more than a decade serving individuals and families across Central Texas through case management, housing stability, child welfare, and reentry services. Most recently, she worked as a Financial Housing Stability Case Manager, where she helped families build long-term stability by connecting them with housing resources, financial support, and community services. She also served as a Case Manager with The Salvation Army, providing trauma-informed support to survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Her previous experience with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and in community reentry programs has equipped her with extensive experience in crisis intervention, advocacy, and walking alongside individuals as they navigate complex challenges.

Outside of work, she enjoys crafting, journaling, and going on holidays with her husband and two kiddos. Her favorite snack is sweet peppers stuffed with jalapeño cream cheese and Greek seasoning, and her all-time favorite movie is “Remember the Titans” (with a super close second being “The Wood”). 

The need for survivor support in Central Texas is great, and adding a case manager to our team allows us to strategically increase the number of clients we can serve in the community.

Not every survivor needs or wants residential care or is ready to commit to our two-year program. That is why we provide community-based services, where we walk alongside adult survivors of all genders who are currently involved in or exiting the sex trade.

Our non-residential program offers support in two critical ways:

• Short-term crisis intervention and stabilization

• Long-term, relational, and individualized case management

In the last three months, through our community-based services, we've provided emergency hotel stays for survivors identified by law enforcement, helped clients access critical medical care, walked alongside a client as they began therapy with a counselor, and made referrals to additional community resources.

While Candiss will work with the women in our residential program, Emily will be able to expand our reach to serve additional clients in the community. We are excited for this new addition to our team and hopeful for the survivors we will have the opportunity to walk alongside.