With volunteer numbers critically low in 38 eastern Kentucky counties, the Citizen Foster Care Review Boards are asking communities to help review cases of children in foster care.
Rosalyn O. Patton-Pelt, state chair of the organization, said eastern Kentucky faces many hardships, with numerous natural disasters, reductions in the coal industry and employment, and limited access to affordable housing and childcare. All of which has affected the children of the region greatly.
“When you have these things that are barriers for adults, it only makes sense that it also has a heavy impact on the children of that area as well. Eastern Kentucky has had some hits, and we do have children who are in out-of-home care, and we are lacking in foster homes across the state,” said Patton-Pelt.
She added that eastern Kentuckians are resilient, and the foster care review boards need volunteers with the compassion of eastern Kentucky to ensure the safety and well-being of children in need. Patton-Pelt also said that despite having hundreds of volunteers across the Commonwealth already, it’s not enough, especially since the volunteers only meet one day a month.
“Currently, we have 700 volunteers throughout the Commonwealth, and we have 172 boards. That sounds like a lot of volunteers, but when you look at the 120 counties we have in Kentucky and the fact that we have so many children whose cases need to be reviewed. Last year, in 2024, we have over 11,000 children in and out-of-home care,” said Patton-Pelt.
The review boards are teams of court-appointed volunteers who conduct interactive reviews on children’s cases and make recommendations to the Cabinet of Health and Family Services as well as state courts regarding the well-being of the child.
People who wish to volunteer are required to fill out an application and consent to criminal record and Central Registry checks. More information can be found at kentucky.gov on the Citizen Foster Care Review Board webpage.