Title LI, Unified Juvenile Code

investigation of abandonment -- Placement in foster home -- Inquiry to ensure that infant is not missing child -- Involuntary termination of parental rights. (1) As used in this section, "newborn infant" means an infant who is medically determined to be less than thirty (30) days…

(1) The cabinet shall make available standardized health, medical, and background information forms for use in gathering voluntary, nonidentifying information from a person who leaves an infant in accordance with KRS 405.075 and as required by KRS 216B.190. The materials shall cl…

investigating abuse or neglect in foster homes -- Foster parent approval -- Nonliability of cabinet. (1) Persons who provide foster care services to children who have been committed to the custody of the state shall be considered a primary partner and member of a professional tea…

A child who is placed in foster care shall be considered a primary partner and member of a professional team. A foster child, as the most integral part of the professional team, shall have the following rights to: (1) Adequate food, clothing, and shelter; (2) Freedom from physica…

family. (1) If the cabinet determines that a child, who is in the custody of the cabinet through an emergency, temporary, or permanent court order as a result of dependency, neglect, or abuse and is in foster care, should be moved from a current placement to a new placement or re…

As used in KRS 620.500 to 620.550, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Association" means the state Court-Appointed Special Advocate Association established in KRS 620.530, also known as the Kentucky CASA Network; (2) "Court" means family court or, if there is no family c…

Program director -- CASA volunteers. (1) For the purpose of providing an independent, efficient, and thorough representation for children who enter the court system as a result of dependency, abuse, or neglect, there may be established a court-appointed special advocate program b…

(1) Secretarial and support services for each CASA program may be provided by the family court, the District Court, the circuit clerk, or a combination thereof, as ordered by the chief judge of family court or, if none, then by the Chief District Judge. The Administrative Office …

(1) The Kentucky CASA network fund is hereby created as a separate trust fund. The fund shall be administered by the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. (2) The fund shall receive amounts collected from the income tax checkoff established in KRS 141.449, and any other proceeds fro…

(1) A CASA volunteer shall meet the following minimum requirements: (a) Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age; (b) Be of good moral character; (c) Complete a written application providing the names of at least three (3) references; (d) Submit to a personal interview with progr…

(1) The clerk of the court shall: (a) Notify and provide a copy of all dependency, abuse, and neglect petitions to the program director, as soon as the court makes a referral to the program director for assignment of a CASA volunteer to the case; (b) Provide a copy of all court o…

(1) CASA volunteers who have a conflict of interest in a case shall not be appointed to the case. (2) The CASA volunteer shall: (a) Attend all court hearings except that the CASA volunteer may be excused by the court or the program director if emergency circumstances arise; (b) S…

(1) A state Court-Appointed Special Advocate Association shall be established. All CASA volunteers, local board members, program directors, and staff shall be eligible for membership in the association. Other categories of membership may be created by the association. (2) The ass…

The association shall: (1) Adopt and approve state standards for all CASA volunteers, program directors, and other staff, including, but not limited to, guidelines for training; (2) Adopt and approve the uniform annual data reporting procedures for local programs pursuant to KRS …

If the state board employs a full-time staff person to serve as the director of the association, then: (1) The state director shall be a person who by a combination of education, professional qualification, training, and experience is qualified to perform the duties of this posit…

(1) Secretarial and support services for the state board may be provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts. (2) The association may receive private funds, and local, state, and federal government funds to financially assist existing local CASA programs, assist local effo…

Each CASA program shall forward annually to the association and cabinet a report, pursuant to KRS 620.535(2) and KRS 620.505(2)(h), and any recommendations regarding the policies and practices of the court, the cabinet, and child-care facilities and child-placement agencies affec…

The cabinet shall notify the CASA volunteer, the CASA program, and the court when it schedules treatment planning conferences and reviews.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any person intentionally violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. (2) The use of information by public officers and by defense counsel for purposes of investigation and trial of cases or o…