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Virtual community forum series for public input on state's foster care system

FRANKFORT, Ky., Sept. 10, 2025 - The public is invited to attend a virtual community forum series in September and October hosted by Citizen Foster Care Review Boards to discuss ways to improve outcomes for Kentucky families and children in the foster care system. All interested individuals are encouraged to attend one of the forums scheduled for Sept. 25 and 29 and Oct. 3 and 8. Registration is required.

The forums are part of the reforms outlined in House Bill 1, passed in 2018 to address challenges within the foster care and adoption systems. The Citizen Foster Care Review Boards (CFCRBs) first held regional forums to gather public input on the foster care system in late October 2018.

The forums will focus on prevention efforts, including protecting children from harm, fostering strong and nurturing relationships between children and their parents, and connecting families with essential resources. Due to confidentiality, specific cases will not be discussed.

Discussion points at the community forums will include:

  • What early intervention services are available in your community?
  • What type of targeted services are available for children and families that are tailored to meet the family’s individual needs?
  • What barriers impede prevention efforts?
  • What local solutions can be identified to overcome these barriers to prevention?
  • How can your community prioritize prevention of child maltreatment?

Findings from the forums will be reported to the Kentucky Citizen Foster Care Review Board and will be included in the CFCRB’s annual recommendations to the Supreme Court, the governor and legislature.

FORUM SCHEDULE

Registrants will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom meeting link one week before their town hall. For more information, email cfcrb@kycourts.net.

Sept. 25, 2025

11 a.m.-noon CT/ noon- 1 p.m. ET

Registration required at https://kcoj.info/Sep25CFCRB.

For residents in these counties: Allen, Ballard, Barren, Breckinridge, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Edmonson, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hancock, Hardin, Hart, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, LaRue, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McLean, Meade, Metcalfe, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren and Webster

Sept. 29, 2025

11 a.m.-noon CT/noon- 1 p.m. ET

Registration required at https://kcoj.info/Sep29CFCRB.

For residents in these counties: Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Floyd, Green, Greenup, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Marion, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Taylor, Washington, Wayne, Whitley and Wolfe

Oct. 3, 2025

11 a.m.-noon CT/noon – 1 p.m. ET

Registration required at https://kcoj.info/Oct3CFCRB.

For residents in these counties: Anderson, Boone, Bourbon, Boyle, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Clark, Estill, Fleming, Franklin, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Harrison, Henry, Jessamine, Kenton, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Mason, Mercer, Nicholas, Oldham, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Robertson, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble and Woodford

Oct. 8, 2025

11 a.m. -noon CT/noon -1 p.m. ET

Registration required at https://kcoj.info/Oct8CFCRB.

For residents in these counties: Bullitt, Fayette and Jefferson

Citizen Foster Care Review Board
The Kentucky General Assembly created the state CFCRB in 1982 to decrease children’s time in out-of-home care. More than 700 volunteers across the state serve as members of the Kentucky CFCRB.

Thousands of Kentucky children enter foster care each year due to dependency, neglect and abuse. CFCRB volunteers play a crucial role in protecting children by reviewing the cases of each child in the custody of the Department for Community Based Services within the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

CFCRBs review the case of each child in foster care at least once every six months, as required by statute. In fiscal year 2024, volunteers reviewed 19,565 cases involving 11,301 children in out-of-home care. View the latest CFCRB annual report at https://kcoj.info/CFCRB2024.

Join a CFCRB
Make a difference for the children in your community by serving as a CFCRB volunteer. CFCRBs throughout Kentucky need volunteers. Get more information and apply at bit.ly/CFCRBvolunteer. Contact the state CFCRB at CFCRB@kycourts.net.

Administrative Office of the Courts
The Administrative Office of the Courts administers the CFCRB program. The AOC is the operations arm for the state court system and supports the activities of nearly 3,300 employees and 412 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The AOC also executes the Judicial Branch budget.