Citizen Foster Care Review Boards (CFCRB) are seeking volunteers in more than half of Kentucky’s 120 counties to review cases of children in foster care and make recommendations regarding their care.
Volunteers make a positive difference in the lives of children who are in foster care due to dependency, neglect and abuse.
“It takes a lot of wonderful people to do this meaningful work, and we are greatly in need of more volunteers to join us,” CFCRB State Vice Chair Rosalyn Patton-Pelt said. Learn more in a brief video with Patton-Pelt at https://kcoj.info/VolunteerCFCRB.
Volunteers are needed statewide, but included in the 75 counties in dire need are Grayson, Butler, Breckinridge, Edmonson, Hardin, Hart, and Ohio counties.
Thousands of children are placed in foster and other out-of-home care each year in the commonwealth. CFCRBs are teams of court-appointed volunteers who conduct interactive reviews with children and make recommendations to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and state courts, for each child. Boards recommend services to help children and advocate for placing children in safe, permanent homes as soon as possible, whether with their parents or with other relatives or an adoptive family.
Volunteers generally review cases one day a month.
Potential volunteers must apply, consent to criminal record and Central Registry checks and complete six hours of initial training. The training includes two sessions held via Zoom and two self-study webinars. Those interested are encouraged to apply as soon as possible so they can be screened and, if approved, scheduled for training.
Once a potential volunteer has completed training, a recommendation is made by the local Family or District Court for appointment to the local CFCRB.
To apply and get more information, visit https://kcoj.info/CFCRBVolunteer.
Citizen Foster Care Review Board
The Kentucky General Assembly created the state CFCRB in 1982 to decrease children’s time in out-of-home care.
More than 700 dedicated volunteers across the state serve as members of the Kentucky CFCRB. The average length of service is six years, demonstrating a long-term commitment to children in need.
CFCRB reviews each child’s case in foster care at least once every six months as required by statute. In fiscal year 2023, volunteers reviewed 20,142 cases involving 11,905 children in out-of-home care. Learn more at kcoj.info/CFCRB2023.
Administrative Office of the Courts
The Administrative Office of the Courts administers the CFCRB program. The AOC is the operations arm for the state court system and supports the activities of nearly 3,300 employees and 413 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The AOC also executes the Judicial Branch budget.
By the Administrative Office of the Courts and Ken Howlett, News Director
