Kentucky Court of Justice
Volunteers needed in Jefferson County to assist children placed in foster care

Press Release Date:  Friday, December 21, 2007  
Contact Information:  Leigh Anne Hiatt, APR
Public Information Officer
502-573-2350, x 4064
Cell-502-545-2839
lhiatt@kycourts.net
http://courts.ky.gov
 


FRANKFORT, Ky., Dec. 20, 2007 -- Seven of the Jefferson County Citizen Foster Care Review Boards -- 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 -- are seeking volunteers to make a difference in the lives of local foster children. Volunteers are needed to review cases of children placed in foster care because of abuse, dependency and neglect to ensure these children are placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.

The Kentucky General Assembly created the Citizen Foster Care Review Board, or CFCRB, in 1982 as a way to decrease the time children spend in foster care. CFCRB volunteers review Cabinet for Health and Family Services files on children placed in out-of-home care and work with the cabinet and the courts on behalf of the state’s foster children.

All volunteers must complete a six-hour initial training session and consent to a criminal record and central registry check. A recommendation is then made to the chief judge of the District Court or Family Court for appointment.

All Jefferson County Citizen Foster Care Review Boards meet monthly in Louisville. The meeting schedule is at follows:

Jefferson County 2, first or second Monday at 5 p.m.
Jefferson County 4, second Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Jefferson County 6, second Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Jefferson County 7, first Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
Jefferson County 8, first or second Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Jefferson County 9, first or second Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
Jefferson County 10, second Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

For more information, contact:
Amy Smitha, Field Coordinator
Jefferson County Citizen Foster Care Review Boards
502-595-3498

Nearly 850 volunteers across the state serve as members of the Kentucky Citizen Foster Care Review Board. The boards operate within the Dependent Children’s Services Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts in Frankfort. The volunteer reviewers help ensure that children receive the necessary services while in foster care and are ultimately placed in permanent homes. The AOC is the administrative arm of the Kentucky Court of Justice and supports the activities of 4,000 court system employees, including the elected offices of justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The AOC also executes the Judicial Branch budget.