Social worker Bill (Geoffrey Rivas) consults with parents Lena Adams (actress Sherri Saum), left, and Stef Foster (Teri Polo) on “The Fosters.” Screenshot courtesy of ABC Family.

Actor Geoffrey Rivas said he beat out about a dozen other actors and went through a grueling audition to play the part of social worker Bill on ABC Family’s “The Fosters,” a drama about a lesbian couple raising five biological, foster, and adopted children.

“Why I got the job I don’t know,” he said. “I saw (Bill) as a real down-to-earth, bread-and-butter type of guy trying to do his job and bring the kids out of the system and that’s how I approached it.”

Rivas told SocialWorkersSpeak.org he doesn’t know any social workers but he and his family have worked on issues important to members of the profession.

Actor Geoffrey Rivas wants social workers to write ABC Family if they want to see more of social worker Bill on “The Fosters.” Here is the contact information for the network.

Geoffrey Rivas. Photo courtesy of TVRage.com.

For instance, Rivas’ cousin is a psychologist who has worked with farm workers and low-income families. And Rivas volunteers at the Santa Monica, Calif.-based Virginia Street Project, a free after-school project that uses the arts and one-on-one mentoring to help children think critically and creatively and build confidence.

Bill is mentioned several times on the show but has only been seen in one episode offering advice to parents Lena Adams (actress Sherri Saum) and Stef Foster (Teri Polo).

Rivas, who appeared in the film “La Bamba” and had a recurring role of Detective Sam Vega on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” urged social workers to write ABC Family if they want the character to get more airtime.

“One letter is equal to a thousand viewers,” Rivas said. “That would help our plight of getting out the word about social workers.”

Social workers help find foster families for children whose parents can longer care for them. They also help form new families through adoption. To learn more visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” Adoptions and Foster Care website.