. (WAVE) – The Kentucky Citizen Foster Care Review Board is calling for volunteers in 54 counties — including Jefferson, Oldham, Bullitt, Shelby and Meade. That’s because they say there aren’t enough members to review the cases of the more than 8,000 children currently in Kentucky foster care.
The board, which operates under the Administrative Office of the Courts, reviews the cases of children in out-of-home care and sends recommendations directly to judges on each child’s behalf.
“Whatever county you live in, there are children who need you,” said Rosalyn O. Patton-Pelt, state chair of the Kentucky Citizen Foster Care Review Board.
How the board works
Every six months, a CFCRB panel reviews each foster child’s case — gathering information from social workers, foster parents, biological family members, the youth themselves and other parties involved in the case.
Volunteers do not make final decisions, but their recommendations carry weight with the court.
“The Foster Care Review Board panel does not make decisions in the case, but we do hear all of the information involved,” Patton-Pelt said. “Based off of that information, we send recommendations to the judge — making sure that the permanency and well-being of the children are taken care of.”
The board currently operates more than 170 panels across Kentucky’s 120 counties. In Fiscal Year 2025, 716 volunteers conducted 19,746 total reviews covering 11,435 children statewide, according to a press release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.
“We have over 170 boards. So we do have volunteers, but we need a lot more — because there are so many children in need,” Patton-Pelt said. “And to ensure that they are not falling through the cracks, we need all hands on deck.”
Kentucky ranks in the top five states for cases involving child abuse, Patton-Pelt said.
Who can volunteer
No professional background in law or child services is required. The board says it actively seeks volunteers from all walks of life — including retired educators, stay-at-home parents, veterans and people with backgrounds in behavioral health.
“When there have been different situations that affect maybe someone culturally — different religion, different ethnic background — it’s important to have everyone at the table to discuss what are the children’s best interests,” Patton-Pelt said.
Volunteers must pass a criminal background check and a Central Registry check before being approved.
Training and time commitment
All board meetings are held virtually on Zoom, once a month.
Volunteers complete six hours of initial training through two live Zoom sessions and two self-paced online modules, according to the press release.
“Training is ongoing — the board recently held an annual session with state child services covering programs available to youth aging out of the foster care system,” Patton-Pelt said.
After completing training, volunteers are recommended to the chief judge of the local Family Court or District Court for formal appointment to the board.
Why it matters
When a child is removed from their home, they are often separated from their school, their neighborhood and everyone familiar to them.
“When you strip a child from their community, from their biological family — no one looks like them, no one speaks like them — it is vital to have people with compassion, with a calling to advocate for kids, a true heart for children,” Patton-Pelt said.
“By volunteering with a CFCRB board, community members can play a direct role in improving outcomes for children in foster care,” CFCRB State Vice Chair Mika Tyler said in a statement. “National Child Abuse Prevention Month reminds us that protecting children is a shared responsibility.”
The Kentucky General Assembly created the CFCRB in 1982 to decrease the amount of time children spend in out-of-home care. More than 700 volunteers currently serve statewide, with an average length of service of six years, according to the press release.
The board encourages interested volunteers to apply as soon as possible so they can be screened and, if approved, scheduled for training.
You can apply and learn more on the CFCRB website.