By: Tara Pulaski
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky’s nine Citizen Review Panels (CRPs), facilitated by the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) came together in Frankfort on Friday, September 5, for their annual retreat, sharing updates, strengthening child welfare knowledge, and planning for the future. The event was held at the Frankfort Country Club.
Citizen Review Panels are groups of volunteers that work to improve their state’s child welfare system. Kentucky has nine regional CRPs that tackle barriers impacting the well-being of children and families in their communities. CRPs work in partnership with the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) to improve crucial child welfare concerns.
Each year, the panels identify issues in their region, design a project or initiative to help, and make recommendations to the state for system improvement.
The Annual CRP Retreat featured updates and a Q&A with the DCBS Commissioner Lesa Dennis and DCBS Assistant Director Cliff Bryant. The program welcomed DCBS Leadership at the event, highlighting their ongoing collaboration. The panels learned more about several DCBS programs, including Alternative Response, Subsidized Permanent Custody for kinship families, additional support for foster parents, and placement strategies for youth in out-of-home care, specifically youth with complex needs.
Additionally, the panels strategically planned their activities for the upcoming fiscal year. Focal areas include youth mental health and the continuity of care, youth substance use, addressing poverty, adoptive families in crisis, youth homelessness, educational challenges and truancy, foster parent recruitment and retention, high acuity youth, and prevention services. Each panel will solidify their plans and projects this Fall.
The University of Kentucky College of Social Work would like to recognize all the CRP members who make this work possible. If you’re interested in serving on your region’s CRP, please complete the application.