Sibling Connections and Reasonable Efforts in Public Child Welfare

Abstract

On October 7, 2008, President George W. Bush signed Pub. L.110-351 into law. This major legislation changed child welfare practice. Of particular interest are the provisions concerning sibling placement and reasonable efforts. Both research and advocacy groups have pointed to the important role of siblings, and hence the need to place siblings together or to at least facilitate sibling contact while separated. We briefly review the research on the important role of siblings, examine sibling placements in foster care and kinship care in relation to placement disruption and permanency outcomes, and suggest policies and practices (e.g., family group decision making) to support the sibling bond over time.