COVINGTON, Ky. -- Volunteers are needed in a big way in Northern Kentucky to help make a difference in the lives of children in foster care.
In 1982 the Kentucky General Assembly created the Citizen Foster Care Review Board.
This is a way for volunteers to work with the state and the courts to decrease the time children spend in foster care.
The Children's Home of Northern Kentucky in Covington is a residential agency that houses boys from the age of 7 to 17.
Some of the boys that are here may be placed in foster care.
To help with that placement, the Cabinet For Health and Family Services turns to volunteers with the Citizen Foster Care Review Board.
"They go through the file and they read the actual case notes the case worker has written in the file and they fill out a form, a standardized form, and make findings and recommendations to the judge that presides over that case regarding the child's permanency and placement," said Ty Sparks, with the Citizen Foster Care Review Board.
Sparks is the family services coordinator for the volunteers. She's seen a significant decrease recently.
In Kenton County alone there are 283 cases involving 408 children that need to be reviewed.
Currently, Kenton County has only 27 active volunteers.
The perception is that the position is time consuming, however, Sparks says that's not the case.
"All the Kenton County boards meet monthly and they only meet once a month for about two to three hours, so it’s not a big time commitment but it is a reward to feel like you are making a difference in your community," said Sparks.
Volunteers interested will have to complete a six-hour initial training session and agree to a background check.
