Cochise County Needs 9 Volunteers for Foster Care Reviews

Every six months, 143 children in Cochise County foster care get a crucial checkup on their path to finding permanent homes. Now, the county needs nine more everyday citizens to help make sure no child's story gets overlooked.

The Foster Care Review Board brings together five community members who review each child's case twice a year until they're reunited with family, adopted, placed with guardians, or age out of the system. Board members meet virtually for one weekday each month, making it possible to help vulnerable kids without leaving home.

The commitment is manageable but meaningful. About 10 days before each monthly meeting, volunteers receive secure access to case files including progress reports, therapy updates, and notes from advocates. They review the materials and prepare questions from their own kitchen tables.

During the virtual reviews, everyone connected to a child's case can share updates. Case managers, biological parents, foster parents, counselors, and attorneys all get their say. Board members ask clarifying questions and then write recommendations that go directly to Juvenile Court and everyone involved in the case.

The program works because it adds fresh eyes to complex situations. These aren't social workers or lawyers, they're neighbors, retirees, parents, and professionals from all walks of life who bring common sense and community perspective to difficult decisions about children's futures.

Cochise County currently runs two boards and plans to add a third. Across Arizona, 505 volunteers serve on 101 boards statewide. Most members choose to stay beyond their initial three year terms, a sign that the work, while heavy at times, feels worthwhile.

The Ripple Effect

When citizen volunteers show up for foster children, the impact spreads beyond individual cases. These boards ensure that overworked case managers get accountability, that judges hear community voices, and that children know strangers care enough to spend hours understanding their lives. The six month reviews create momentum, keeping cases from stalling in bureaucracy while kids wait for stability.

Requirements are straightforward: volunteers must be at least 21, available one weekday monthly, and able to pass a background check. Training and continuing education come with the role. Those wanting to work one on one with a child can also explore becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate instead.

Applications are available now at AZFCRB.org for anyone ready to turn one day a month into a lifeline for kids who need champions in their corner.