Malden Resident Advocating For Families In Need As A CASA Worker

MALDEN, MA — A resident has dedicated the last five years to advocating for children who have fallen victim to caretaker abuse and neglect.

Ricardo Franco, 61, is a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Boston CASA, a nonprofit organization. Franco also works as a social worker professionally, as he is the Associate Director at the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange.

The Colombian native believes his heritage and background has helped him in his role as a CASA.
"So many times, professionals make assumptions about 'best interest' without understanding the culture," Franco said. "How do you know what's best for a child if you don't understand their family's values, their background, their fears?"

Three out of the four cases Franco has managed during his tenure have involved Latin-American families. He is able to have input in judicial decisions on the children he advocates for. What may set Franco apart from his peers is that he not only advocates for the children, but for their entire families and their situations. He recalled one instance in which he felt the removal was unnecessary when a mother expressed her helplessness in disciplining her child, causing him to be removed from the home that same day.

“So many times, children shouldn't be removed in the first place," Franco said. "These are stressed parents who just need support and resources."

Franco hopes to see more people of Latin-American heritage become CASAS in the future.
CASA requirements include a 30-hour training session in which trainees are taught the cultural differences they will encounter between families. When the training is passed, CASAs are then sworn in by a judge. Advocates must be at least 21 years of age and commit to a single case for 18 months. The organization is headquartered on 151 Merrimac St. in Boston.

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