For fifteen years, Ellen Balasco was in court almost daily as a Staff Attorney with the Rhode Island Family Court in the office of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Serving as Guardian ad litem for thousands of children whose families were involved with DCYF, Ellen protected the interests of children in cases of neglect and abuse. She also represented the interests of children being adopted, and had an active part in each National Adoption Day program at the Family Court.

Attorney Balasco's service and work as a child advocate was spotlighted in a series of feature articles in the Providence Journal from April of 2006 to January of 2007. These articles highlighted the Family Treatment Drug Court, which Attorney Balasco vigorously promoted and practiced in since its inception. The stories cover the struggle of a mother regaining custody of her child and tracking her journey through the Rhode Island Family Court and DCYF systems.

http://www.projo.com/extra/2006/tania/day4/
http://www.projo.com/extra/2006/tania/day5/
http://www.projo.com/extra/2006/tania/day6/

Before joining the Court Appointed Special Advocates program Attorney Balasco had an active Family Court practice, handling divorce, child custody, support and visitation cases in Providence County Family Court.

Attorney Ellen Balasco is a Barrister of the Edward P. Gallogly Rhode Island Family Law Inns of Court, and a member of the National Association of Counsel for Children and the Rhode American Bar Association Children at Risk Task Force. She has been active in training programs at the Rhode Island Foster Parents Association, and has presented countless training sessions for foster parents, Volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates, law students and other professionals.