LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Thousands of children are currently in Kentucky's foster care system. 

In a WDRB Investigation in April, WDRB found hundreds of Kentucky foster children have slept on cots in office buildings after not being placed in the care they need.

Wednesday in Frankfort, lawmakers said too many of them are aging out but it's not for the reasons you might think.

The memories are vague but the change made a lasting impression.

"It was the day before my grandma was going to take me to Disney World but instead I was put in a car and taken to foster care," Kayla Hatfield said.

Hatfield was just five years old when her mother lost custody and she was put into foster care.

"I struggled going back to school. And my grandparents had to go to court to maintain custody of me," Hatfield said.

Her grandparents stayed by her side for years and paid legal fees out of their own pocket to become her legal guardians.

Hatfield told lawmakers had the process not taken so long she wouldn't have had to bounce between foster care families.

"I would've been better," Hatfield said.

More than 8,000 children are currently in Kentucky’s foster care system.  

"I hate that we have so many that we don't have a home for," Senator Whitney Westerfield said.

Lawmakers said too many of them are aging out. Barren County Family Court Judge Mica Pence said that's partly due to delays in court.

"We cannot expect a new attorney who has never had a bench trial to prepare to prepare for an adjudication on these cases in 45 days," Pence said.

Pence said the state needs to pay more for experienced attorneys who will dedicate their skills to family court.

"I think more family court would be great, but just increasing the quality is important, and just making sure we have enough people to address these things," Pence said.

The Department for Community Based Services recently established a new program that now automates the foster to adoption transition process. It is called KY FACE, or Foster Adoptive Care Giver exchange program.

"Foster care parents did say the process is a lot faster now," a DCBS employee said.

But DCBS also said on average, it still takes about 24 to 36 months for a child to either be reunified with their family or get adopted.

"Its a universal issue, but if we want to put our money where our mouth is, then we will prioritize funding," Sen. Robin Webb, said.

The same group will meet again next month to discuss funding and other court alternatives.

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