KRS 620.270: Scope of review of local citizen foster care review board -- Regional

forums.

(1) Subject to the provisions of KRS 620.230, the local citizen foster care review board

shall review the case of each child placed in the custody of the cabinet by an order

of temporary custody or commitment by the court in the county or counties which

the local board serves. The review shall occur at least once every six (6) months

until the child is no longer in the custody of the cabinet or until an adoption

proceeding becomes final.

(2) During each six (6) month review, the local citizen foster care review board shall

review:

(a) The past, current, and future status of the child and his placement as shown

through the case permanency plan, case record, case progre ss reports

submitted by the cabinet, and other information as the board may require;

(b) The efforts or adjustment the parent has made in his circumstances, conduct,

or conditions to make it in the child's best interest to return him to his home

within a reasonable period of time considering the age of the child;

(c) The efforts of the cabinet to locate and provide services to the biological

parents of the child;

(d) The efforts of the cabinet and other agencies to facilitate the return of the child

to the home or to find an alternative permanent placement if reunion with the

parent or previous custodian is not feasible. The cabinet shall report to the

board all factors which either favor or mitigate against any decision or

alternative with regard to these matters; and

(e) Any problems, solutions, or alternatives which may be capable of exploration,

or other matters with regard to the child as the cabinet or the board determine

to be explored with regard to the best interests of the state or of the child.

(3) Upon completion of a training curriculum developed and provided jointly by the

Administrative Office of the Courts and by the Department for Community Based

Services and approved by the state review board in regard to child sexual abuse, the

local citizen foster care review board may review, at the discretion of the board, a

sample of all petitions filed in the District Court of the county served by the board

alleging sexual abuse of any child, not to exceed two hundred (200) petitions per

year statewide, in order to determine the adequacy of the investigation, and the

appropriateness of findings, adjudication, and disposition of the court. The board

shall have access to all records of the cabinet, medical professionals, and law

enforcement agencies pertaining to these cases. The board shall provide the cabinet

and the court a full report of the findings and recommendations concerning the

review.

(4) Notice of the six (6) month interested party review and the right to attend and

participate in the six (6) mo nth interested party review shall be provided to the

child's parents, if parental rights have not been terminated or surrendered; the

parent's attorney; the guardian ad litem, the attorney for the child, or both; the foster

parents; the prospective adoptiv e parent; the relative providing care for the child;

and the child who is a party to the proceeding. The cabinet shall provide the

Administrative Office of the Courts Citizen Foster Care Review Board with the

names, addresses, and any other needed contact information in order to provide

adequate, timely notice of the review to these persons.

(5) At least twice annually, the local citizen foster care review boards shall 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. The boards shall report their

findings to the State Citizen Foster Care Review Board in accordance with KRS

620.340.