How to Apply for a FCRB Local Board Position
The FCRB welcomes all community members who are interested in the welfare of foster children. NO specific qualifications are necessary in order to serve on a board. We seek board members who bring a wealth of experience, cultural diversity, and a willingness to work in a team environment to the Board. Potential volunteers are required to complete an application, undergo a background check, complete an informal interview process, and participate in monthly case reviews.
- The applicant must complete and application form. The applicant must have fingerprints taken and a thorough background is conducted.
- Once the application process is completed, the applicant will be contacted once a vacancy occurs. A program specialist will conduct a personal interview.
- Volunteers are selected and appointed by the presiding juvenile court judge in each county.
- Appointments are usually for three years; appointments may be for less time if a member is appointed to fill a vacancy that has occurred prior to the expiration of a three year term.
- The judge is required, to the maximum extent possible, to ensure that each board represents the socioeconomic, racial and ethnic groups of the county in which it serves.
- The volunteer must complete a two day new board member orientations (NBMO) within 90 days following appointment.
Time Commitment
Most boards meet once per month during a workday (Monday through Friday) from approximately 8:00 am until approximately 4:30pm. some boards meet fewer times per year and for shorter hours during the day. Volunteers will be informed of the times and dates of the review board meetings for their specific board.
Approximately three to six days prior to the board meetings, volunteers will receive a packet which contains each child's case information to be reviewed. This takes approximately five to ten hours of preparation time per board.
Volunteers are required to complete the annual in-service training requirements.
Compensation
Volunteers are not compensated. However, volunteers are reimbursed for milage and meals according to state statutes.
How to Apply for a FCRB Removal Review board position
What is a Removal Review?
DES must review the case of each child that they remove from the care of their biological parents, legal guardian or custodian prior to the dependency petition being filed. The team includes the investigating case manager, the case manager supervisor, an assistant program manager from the Agency, and a member of the local FCRB. Sometimes there is a third party present from DES that is not directly involved in the case. This team can vary in each CPS district, but the team typically includes these individuals. Additionally, the law now requires that the review team include a physician for a child with a medical need or chronic illness.
The removal review team assesses options other than continued out of home placement including in-home services to the family.
The role as an FCRB volunteer is dramatically different as a member of the removal review team. Questions being asked concern removal rather than long term case management issues.
What is the Removal Review Team Volunteer's Time commitment?
- Volunteers will be assigned to a different DES region/office and must commit to a minimum of one day per month.
- The volunteer will be on-call for the day(s) and time(s) to which they have committed. In most cases, notification will be made no less than thirty minutes prior to the review.
- The volunteer will attend these reviews at the Agency's office assigned. However, due to the short notice received, the volunteer will also have the option of participating telephonically.
- Each volunteer will be required to attend a mandatory one day training. No volunteer may serve on a removal review team until this mandatory training has been completed.
- Review team appointments are for three years. Appointment may be for less time if a member is appointed to fill a vacancy that has occurred prior to the expiration of a three year term.
- Board member are not compensated for their time as this is a volunteer service. Volunteers will be reimbursed for milage and meals according to state statutes.
How can you become an FCRB Removal Review Team Volunteer?
- Volunteers are selected and appointed by the presiding juvenile court judge in each county and appointed to a local Foster Care Review Board.
- Volunteers must complete a mandatory one-day training.
- Volunteers participating as review team members will be appointed to a local Foster Care Review Board and will be required to observe or participate in no less than two board meetings per year.
- Volunteers must serve on a local board for a minimum of six months prior to appointment as a removal review members.
- Volunteers need to have a basic knowledge of child welfare laws and the foster care system. These issues and others will be addressed in training.
If you are interested in becoming a removal review team volunteer, and believe that you can make this commitment of time, please complete and return the application. You can also contact Carissa Moore at 602-452-3418 or e-mail her at cmoore@courts.az.gov.