Kentucky Court of Justice
Volunteers needed to assist children placed in foster care in Harrison, Kenton and Pendleton counties

Press Release Date:  Thursday, November 19, 2009  
Contact Information:  Jamie Ball
Public Information Specialist
502-573-2350, x 2233
jamieball@kycourts.net
http://courts.ky.gov
 


FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Six Kenton County Citizen Foster Care Review Boards and the Harrison/Pendleton County Citizen Foster Care Review Board are seeking volunteers to make a difference in the lives of local children in foster care. 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.

Volunteers are not required to reside in the county where a board meets.

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.

The Harrison/Pendleton County CFCRB meets quarterly on the last Monday of the month. Meetings take place in Cynthiana and Falmouth. Meetings in Cynthiana are at 10 a.m. and meetings in Falmouth are at 1 p.m.

Kenton County CFCRBs meet monthly. The meeting schedule is as follows:
Kenton County A, fourth Tuesday, 4:30 p.m., Covington
Kenton County B, third Thursday, 11 a.m., Covington
Kenton County C, third Wednesday, 10 a.m., Covington
Kenton County D, first Monday, noon, Newport
Kenton County E, fourth Friday, 10 a.m., Newport
Kenton County F, second Tuesday, 6 p.m., Covington

For more information, contact:

Tylessa Sparks
Family Services Coordinator
Citizen Foster Care Review Board
859-334-3245

Nearly 940 volunteers across the state serve as members of the Kentucky Citizen Foster Care Review Board. The boards operate within the Division of Dependent Children’s Services 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 3,800 court system employees, including the elected offices of justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The AOC also executes the Judicial Branch budget.