Citizen Foster Care Review Boards (CFCRBs) 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.
Volunteers are needed statewide, but the 75 counties in dire need are Barren, Bath, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Bracken, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Clark, Clay, Cumberland, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Fulton, Grayson, Greenup, Hardin, Harrison, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Jackson, Jefferson, Jessamine, Johnson, Kenton, Knott, Knox, LaRue, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Livingston, Logan, Madison, Magoffin, Marshall, Martin, Mason, McCracken, McCreary, Meade, Menifee, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Nelson, Nicholas, Ohio, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Robertson, Russell, Simpson, Spencer, Taylor, Trimble, Warren, Wayne and Wolfe.
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 on the 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 kcoj.info.
Administrative Office of the Courts