Ky.gov
Effective: 07/30/2026

G2.5 Citizen Foster Care Review Board and Interested Party Review

Legal Authority

Introduction

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Pursuant to KRS 620.270, children and youth in the temporary custody or who are committed to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (Cabinet/CHFS), regardless of placement, are subject to review by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Citizen Foster Care Review Board (CFCRB). The CFCRB's mission is to ensure that permanency remains a central objective of the courts and the Cabinet for at-risk children. The CFCRB review is required at least once every six (6) months until the Cabinet is no longer legally responsible for the child/youth.

Practice Guidance

  • The following individuals are considered interested parties and have the right to be notified of the CFCRB six (6) month review, attend, and participate: 
    • ​Child’s parents, if parental rights have not been terminated or surrendered; 
    • Parents’ attorney; 
    • Guardian ad litem (GAL), the attorney for the child, or both; 
    • Foster parent(s); 
    • Prospective adoptive parent; 
    • Relative or fictive kin providing care for the child; and 
    • Child who is a party to the proceeding.
  • The interested party review (IPR) utilizes the same information that the local CFCRB uses for case reviews, including the current case plan, current service recordings, ongoing assessments, and placement log. The IPR board uses this material to conduct an interactive review that includes the parties involved and other interested parties. Findings and recommendations from the CFCRB and IPR are sent to the judge assigned to the case, the parent(s), board chair members, and the Cabinet. Findings and recommendations from the IPR are only sent to parents who participate in the IPR. Addresses and other contact information for review participants are not included in the IPR recommendation and findings and are not shared outside the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) and AOC. 
  • In addition, at least twice annually, the Local Citizen Foster Care Review Board (LCFCRB) must participate in regional community forums for members of the public to discuss areas of concern regarding the foster care system and to identify barriers to timely permanency, well-being, and safety for children in out-of-home care (OOHC). The local boards are required to report their findings to the State Citizen Foster Care Review Board in accordance with KRS 620.340.
  • ​​CFCRB has access to all information and records of the Cabinet pertinent to the parents or person exercising custodial control or supervision of the child being reviewed. 
  • CFCRB reviews the case of each child/youth in temporary custody or committed to the Cabinet, in the county or counties served by the board. 
  • The FSOS will be notified either in writing or by email, indicating which case(s) were unable to be reviewed and why (for example, file not provided, out-of-date service recordings, or case plan). This form notifies the FSOS when the case is being called back for review. ​​

Procedure

​​The SSW: 
  1. Provides a copy of the DPP-1281 Family Case Plan to the CFCRB: 
    1. No later than thirty (30) calendar days after the effective date of the court order for each child committed to the Cabinet by either a commitment order or temporary custody order as specified in SOP C7.16 Preparation for and Completion of the Ten (10) day Conference; and 
    2. At a minimum, once every six (6) months to the court and the AOC CFCRB program as specified in SOP C7.17 Ongoing Case Planning​. 
  2. Provides complete contact information to AOC for the following, as applicable, upon request for a case by the CFCRB: 
    1. The child’s parents, if voluntary or involuntary termination of parental rights (TPR) has not occurred; 
    2. The parent’s attorney; 
    3. The guardian ad litem (GAL) and/or child’s attorney; 
    4. The foster parent(s); 
    5. The prospective adoptive parent(s); 
    6. The relative or fictive kin providing care for the child; and 
    7. The child who is a party to the proceeding. 
  3. Responds to questions of the board and appears before the board as requested; 
    1. The FSOS is responsible for assuring that the case record is current and available at the time of the review by the CFCRB. 
  4. Coordinates with AOC to provide notice of the six (6) month IPR and the right to attend and participate to the interested parties in the case which may include, but are not limited to: 
    1. The parent(s), if voluntary or involuntary termination of parental rights (TPR) has not occurred; 
    2. Relative or fictive kin caregiver(s); 
    3. The foster parent(s); ​
    4. The child, as required by KRS 602.270 (5); and 
    5. Others such as therapists, court-appointed special advocate (CASA), GAL, or parent attorney(s). 
  5. ​Submits the request for information form to AOC ​through TWIST, providing names, complete addresses, and phone numbers and, if applicable, interpreting the needs of the above-mentioned parties in the case. Because information is gathered electronically, it is imperative that TWIST recordings are up to date for the most accurate review​; 
  6. Alerts the IPR board if there is an active domestic violence order, restraining order, or any other such court orders regarding the parties whose names, addresses, and phone numbers are being provided to the AOC for this review; and
  7. Attends the IPR board meeting.
The FSOS: 
    1. Ensures the case file is current and available at the time of the review by CFCRB;
    2. Attends the IPR board meeting if the SSW is unavailable;
    3. Responds to any questions of the IPR board within thirty (30) calendar days; and 
    4. Communicates with the FSOS of another county upon receipt of notice of CFCRB review or IPR, when case responsibility is in a different county from court jurisdiction. 

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    Documents

    Revisions