Special to the Sun
Kentucky Administrative Office of Courts
April marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to recognize the critical role communities play in protecting children and supporting families. In Kentucky, that mission takes on urgency as the
Citizen Foster Care Review Board seeks volunteers in 54 counties, including Woodford, to review foster care cases and advocate for vulnerable children.
Each year, thousands of children in Kentucky are removed from their homes due to dependency, neglect and abuse and enter foster and other out-of-home care. Citizen Foster Care Review Board (CFCRB) volunteers play a vital role in these children’s lives by reviewing their cases and making recommendations to the courts and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on each child’s behalf.
The review board helps to ensure children receive necessary services while in care and are placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.
“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. “National Child Abuse Prevention Month reminds us that protecting children is a shared responsibility.”
CFCRB volunteers generally review cases virtually one day a month, with the time of day varying by each county’s board.
Potential volunteers are required to apply, consent to criminal record and Central Registry checks and complete six hours of initial training. Training takes place via two Zoom meetings and two self-paced programs. Those interested are encouraged to apply as soon as possible so they can be screened and, if approved, scheduled for training.
Once a potential volunteer completes training, the CFCRB recommends the person to the chief judge of the local Family Court or District Court for appointment to the CFCRB.
More than 700 volunteers across the state serve as members of a Kentucky CFCRB. The average length of service is six years, demonstrating a long-term commitment to children in nee
To apply and get more information, visit kcoj.info/CFCRB. Learn more about volunteering in a brief video at kcoj.info/CFCRBVideo. A CFCRB recruitment flyer is available at kcoj.info/CFCRBrecruitflyer.
CFCRBs review each child’s care in foster care at least once every six months as required by statute. In 2025, 716 review board volunteers conducted 1,698 paper reviews and 18,048 interested party reviews for a total of 19,746 reviews of 11,435 children. The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) administers the CFCRB program.