The state will hold nine regional forums this summer to explore how to best keep at-risk families together.
That makes Kentucky an early adapter of the Family First Prevention Services Act.
The act contains widespread child welfare reform, specifically focusing on preventing children from entering into the foster care system. It also promotes allowing kinship or family home placements instead of the traditional system of foster care.
States can choose either to delay implementation until October 2021, or roll out the law’s provisions as early as this October.
According to a press release from the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services approximately 9,700 child in out-of-home care.
To learn more about how the Family First law affects Kentucky or DCBS’ programs and assistance go to the Cabinet’s website: https://chfs.ky.gov and type “DCBS” in the “What can we help you find?” search tool.
Family First Prevention Services Act Regional Forum Schedule
All meetings are scheduled to be from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. local time.
Salt River Trail Service Region (Anderson, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Franklin, Grayson, Hardin, Henry, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, Washington and Woodford counties)
Date: June 5
Location: Little Flock Baptist Church, 5500 N. Preston Highway, Shepherdsville, KY 40165
Partner Lead: New Beginnings Family Services
Registration Link: https://familyfirstsaltrivertrail.eventbrite.com
Jefferson Service Region
Date: June 6
Location: Sawyer Hayes Community Center, 2201 Lakeland Road, Louisville, KY 40241
Partner Lead: Kentucky Youth Advocates
Registration Link: https://familyfirstjefferson.eventbrite.com
The Lakes Service Region (Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Trigg and Todd counties)
Date: June 7 (Central Time)
Location: Murray State University CSI Auditorium - Paducah Campus, 4430 Sunset Ave., Paducah, KY 42001
Partner Lead: Voices of the Commonwealth
Registration Link: https://familyfirstlakes.eventbrite.com
Eastern Mountain Service Region (Breathitt, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Wolfe counties)
Date: June 10
Location: Jenny Wiley Convention Center, 419 Jenny Wiley Drive, Prestonsburg, KY 41653
Partner Lead: Service Region Administrator Susan Howard, Mountain Comprehensive Care
Registration Link: https://familyfirsteasternmountain.eventbrite.com
Cumberland Service Region (Adair, Bell, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, McCreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Taylor, Wayne and Whitley counties)
Date: June 12
Location: Somerset Community College, Meece Hall Auditorium, Somerset, KY 42501
Partner Lead: Berea Partners for Education
Registration Link: https://familyfirstcumberland.eventbrite.com
Northern Bluegrass Service Region (Boone, Bourbon, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton and Scott counties)
Date: June 14
Location: St. Elizabeth Training and Education Center, 3861 Olympic Blvd., Erlanger, KY 41018
Partner Lead: Family Nurturing Center
Registration Link: https://familyfirstnorthernbluegrass.eventbrite.com
Two Rivers Service Region (Allen, Barren, Butler, Daviess, Edmonson, Hancock, Hart, Henderson, Logan, McLean, Metcalfe, Monroe, Ohio, Simpson, Union, Warren and Webster counties)
Date: June 26 (central time)
Location: Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, 1201 Pleasant Valley Road, Owensboro, KY 42303
Partner Lead: CASA of the Ohio Valley
Registration Link: https://familyfirsttworivers.eventbrite.com
Southern Bluegrass Service Region (Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer and Powell counties)
Date: July 10
Location: Life Adventure Center, 570 Milner Road, Versailles, KY 40383
Partner Lead: Life Adventure Center
Registration Link: https://familyfirstsouthernbluegrass.eventbrite.com
Northeastern Service Region (Bath, Bracken, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lawrence, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Robertson and Rowan counties)
Date: July 12
Location: Rowan County Arts Center, 205 E. Main St, Morehead, KY 40351
Partner Lead: Sunrise Children’s Services
Registration Link: https://familyfirstnortheastern.eventbrite.com
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Contact: Mary Meehan at mary.meehan@eku.edu
Twitter: @889WEKU
