January 22, 2026 3:30 a.m. 

The Oregon Judicial Department is seeking community volunteers for its Citizen Review Board from around Douglas County and across Oregon.

The program uses trained volunteers to review cases of children in foster care and make recommendations to the court and the Department of Human Services.  The goal is to ensure safety, well-being, and timely permanence for these children.

Volunteers serve on groups that meet once a month, receive comprehensive training on child welfare, trauma and cultural humanity and provide an important community perspective in the review process. Once potential volunteers clear a background check, Oregon’s chief justice approves their appointment and then the local dependency Judge Ann Marie Simmons swears them in.

To learn more about volunteering or to apply, contact Citizen Review Board Field Manager Joelene Rackley at: joelene.m.rackley@ojd.state.or.us