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

FRANKFORT, Ky., Nov. 7, 2005 - 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 Boards (CFCRB) in 1982 as a way to decrease the time children spend in foster care. CFCRB volunteers review Cabinet for Health & 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. Nearly 750 volunteers serve as members of the 141 local review boards across the state. In the last year alone, the boards reviewed the case files of 8,333 children who were removed from their homes and placed into foster care.

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 District Court or Family Court for appointment. The Dependent Children’s Services Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) in Frankfort oversees the CFCRB program.

All Jefferson County Citizen Foster Care Review Boards meet monthly in Louisville. The meeting schedule is as follows:
 Jefferson County 2, first Monday at 5:30 p.m.
 Jefferson County 4, second Tuesday at 5 p.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 Monday at 6 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.

The Administrative Office of the Courts is the operational arm of the Kentucky Court of Justice and supports the activities of more than 3,400 court system employees, including the elected offices of justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The AOC also executes the Judicial Branch budget.

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