Foster Care Review Board Juvenile Court of Memphis & Shelby County

The primary purpose of the foster care review board is to protect children from unnecessary separation from their parents and to give them a good home and loving care when necessary. The goal is to avoid prolonged placement in foster care and the uncertainty it creates. If an early return to the care of their parents in not possible they will be placed in a permanent home at an early date. The secondary purpose is to provide a mechanism to monitor the care of children in foster care to ensure that everything reasonably possible is being done to achieve permanency for the child.

is composed of citizen volunteers and serves as the quasi-judicial function of advising the Court about the permanency process of each child in foster care. This Board makes recommendations to the Tennessee Department of Children Services and Juvenile Court to facilitate a child into a stable, permanent and safe home. Meeting once a month to review progress reports and permanency plans for children to determine the necessity of continuing foster care and the appropriateness of the placement. Deciding on the termination of parental rights if progress towards reunification has not been made within a reasonable amount of time. Projecting a date for the child to exit foster care, either by adoption or permanent placement.