Cochise County is seeking nine community volunteers to serve on the state’s Foster Care Review Board, which reviews the cases of children involved in dependency court proceedings and currently living outside their homes.
There are currently two Foster Care Review Boards in Cochise County, with plans to establish a third. Each board consists of five citizens from throughout the community.
Board members are appointed by the presiding judge of the Cochise County Juvenile Court to three-year terms. Members may request reappointment when their terms expire, and most choose to continue serving.
The two existing Cochise County boards currently review the cases of approximately 143 children.
The Foster Care Review Board, or FCRB, provides an independent citizen perspective on the circumstances of children in out-of-home care. Board members review each case every six months until the child reaches permanency — whether by returning home, being adopted, receiving a guardianship or aging out of the system.
As cases reach permanency, new cases are added to the boards’ review schedules.
Board members meet virtually from their homes one weekday each month. Before each review day, members receive access to case information through a secure website approximately 10 days in advance.
The material may include progress reports, case plans, documentation of participation in services, reports from Court Appointed Special Advocates and other information relevant to the child’s case.
Board members review the material and prepare questions before the meeting.
On the review day, a Foster Care Review Board program specialist facilitates the virtual meeting. Interested parties connected to each case are given an opportunity to appear before the board and discuss the child’s circumstances, including concerns, successes, wants and needs.
Those participating may include case managers, attorneys, biological parents, foster parents, counselors, licensing workers and Court Appointed Special Advocates, among others.
Board members ask questions to clarify and corroborate information presented to them before identifying recommendations for the Juvenile Court and other parties involved in the case.
Following the meeting, the FCRB program specialist prepares a written report summarizing statements made by participants and the recommendations of the board. The report is then forwarded to the Juvenile Court and mailed to the interested parties involved in the case.
Across Arizona, the Foster Care Review Board program has approximately 101 boards and about 505 volunteer positions.
Volunteers receive training and are provided opportunities for continuing education to help them carry out their responsibilities.
To serve on a Cochise County board, volunteers must be at least 21 years old, be available to participate one weekday each month and be able to pass a fingerprint-based background check.
Those interested in volunteering can request an application through the Arizona Foster Care Review Board at www.AZFCRB.org.
Another way residents can become involved in helping children in the foster care system is through Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA. CASA volunteers have similar basic requirements but are assigned by the court to advocate for an individual child.
More information about becoming a CASA volunteer is available at www.AZCASAVolunteer.org.
