Front end post sort drop down menu option/problem

I am searching for either a fix or a plugin for a fix for the wordpress front end sort menu.
Example: In the baskerville theme there is a drop down sort menu for viewing posts by category, etc.; however, when a child theme is used this sort drop down menu disappears and turns into plain search function. I have a huge need for this function on my blog, but it simply does not work in a child theme. As I have scoured wordpress files I have found that it ( the sort drop down menu) appears to be a functioning of wordpress, not baskerville. Not only would I really like/need the drop down sort menu, I would also like to move it from the bottom of the screen (wordpress only allows it to be placed in the footer) but I would like to put it in the header area as part of the horizontal menu.
If there is a plugin alternative that someone could refer me to that would be greatly appreciated as well as I have not been able to find anything. Most of what I have seen seems more like the plugin is designed for the back end rather than the front end. Thanks all for the valuable input you provide.