News Summary
Urgent calls are being made for volunteers to support the Citizen Foster Care Review Boards in Kentucky as the state faces a severe shortage of foster care resources. Twenty-six counties are particularly in need of assistance to review cases of children in foster care due to abuse or neglect. Community involvement is crucial to ensure timely placements and safe environments for affected children. Additionally, a new nonprofit, Foster House, Inc., has opened to provide temporary homes for children awaiting placement, further highlighting the pressing need for licensed foster homes across the state.
Frankfort, Kentucky – Citizens across Kentucky are urgently called to volunteer with the Citizen Foster Care Review Boards (CFCRB) as the state faces critical shortages in its foster care system. Approximately twenty-six counties are in desperate need of volunteers to help review cases of children who have entered foster care due to issues of abuse, neglect, or dependency.
Volunteers play a crucial role by making recommendations to the courts and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, working towards ensuring that children find safe and permanent homes. The CFCRB State Chair emphasized the pressing need for additional support from community members willing to engage in this important work.
Among the counties with significant volunteer shortages are Boone, Boyd, Bracken, Campbell, Carter, Clay, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Hardin, Johnson, Kenton, Laurel, Lawrence, Lewis, Magoffin, Martin, Mason, McCreary, Montgomery, Morgan, Powell, Robertson, Rowan, Whitley, and Wolfe.
The responsibilities of CFCRB volunteers involve reviewing children’s cases, suggesting services, and advocating for timely placement with relatives or in adoptive homes. In fiscal year 2024, more than 700 CFCRB volunteers have already reviewed over 19,500 cases involving 11,301 children who are currently in out-of-home care throughout Kentucky.
Individuals interested in becoming CFCRB volunteers must complete an application process that includes passing background checks and undergoing six hours of training, which consists of online modules and Zoom meetings. Once approved, candidates will be recommended for appointment to local boards by judges.
More information regarding the volunteer process and requirements can be accessed through the CFCRB website. A video outlining the CFCRB program is also available to provide potential volunteers with further insights into the initiative.
In a related effort, a new nonprofit organization called Foster House, Inc. has opened in Bowling Green, aiming to provide temporary homes for children awaiting placement. This initiative seeks to address the high number of children in out-of-home care, particularly in Warren County, where past shortages have led to children sleeping in government offices.
The Foster House initiative, which began under Living Hope Baptist Church, has transitioned into a separate nonprofit organization that offers a welcoming environment for children as social workers strive to find them permanent homes. Community donations play a critical role in supporting Foster House, which maintains a list of supplies and necessities required for operation.
The establishment of Foster House has been positively acknowledged by various figures within the Children’s and Family Services sectors, with the facility now prepared to welcome its first group of children. Despite this new resource, there remains a continual need for additional licensed foster homes in both Warren County and the surrounding regions.
Kentucky as a whole is grappling with a severe foster care crisis, reflecting a national trend where over 360,000 children are currently in foster care across the United States. Kentucky specifically is challenged by a notable lack of foster homes and treatment facilities, forcing hundreds of children into unsuitable short-term accommodations, including government buildings and hotels.
Recent investigations highlight alarming figures, indicating that from July 2022 to February 2023, no fewer than 281 children were found to have spent nights in office buildings due to a failing placement system. In wake of these troubling findings, the Kentucky Auditor has initiated legal action to uncover failures in child placement and care systems.
Governor Andy Beshear’s administration is taking steps to recruit foster families and expand the capacity for caring for children in need. Advocacy campaigns stress the essential need for families to consider fostering and adopting children, particularly older youth who may have more difficulty finding permanent placements.
In conclusion, the community’s involvement and support are critical to address the ongoing foster care crisis affecting Kentucky and ensure that children receive the safe and nurturing environments they deserve.
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Additional Resources
- WBKO: Citizens Needed to Review Foster Care Cases Across KY
- Wikipedia: Foster Care
- WBKO: Foster House Inc. Opens First Home in Bowling Green
- Google Search: Foster Care Kentucky
- Owensboro Times: Cooley Appointed Clinical Treatment Director at Heritage Foster Care
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Foster Care
- BG Daily News: Cooley Joins Heritage Foster Care
- Google News: Foster Care Initiatives Kentucky
Author: STAFF HERE BOWLING GREEN WRITER
The BOWLING GREEN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBowlingGreen.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Bowling Green, Warren County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the National Corvette Homecoming, International Festival, concerts at SKyPAC, and sports events at Beech Bend Park. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and the African American Museum Bowling Green Area, plus leading businesses in automotive, apparel, and healthcare that power the local economy such as General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant, Fruit of the Loom, and Med Center Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERELexingtonKY.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
