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

Press Release Date:  Thursday, March 12, 2009  
Contact Information:  Casie Anderson
Public Information Coordinator
502-573-2350, x 4122
casieanderson@kycourts.net
http://courts.ky.gov
 


FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Three of the Kenton County Citizen Foster Care Review Boards – A, D and E – 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.

Volunteers are not required to reside in Kenton County.

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 Kenton County Citizen Foster Care Review Boards meet monthly. The meeting schedule is as follows:

Kenton County A, fourth Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in Covington
Kenton County D, fourth Monday at noon in Newport
Kenton County E, fourth Friday at 10 a.m. in Newport

For more information, contact:
Tylessa Sparks, Field Coordinator
Northern Kentucky CFCRBs
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 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.