Keeping siblings in care together
One of the biggest questions that we get asked is: do siblings get separated in foster care?
When children enter out-of-home care, it’s important for them to maintain family connection, where safe and feasible to do so, and that includes sibling connections.
While we strive to ensure that sibling groups are not separated, throughout their care experience, there are instances where they may not be able to live with each other. When this occurs, we work with the Department of Child Safety and carers to facilitate contact between siblings. By doing so, it improves their overall happiness, development and sense of identity.
So, do siblings get separated in foster care?
Sometimes children in care aren’t able to live in the same household. However, where it is practical and safe to do so, we aim to ensure that siblings are placed together. The two main reasons for siblings not being able to stay together are, when there are conditions that impact the health and/or safety of the other sibling/s; or where there aren’t any available carers willing to take on sibling groups.
In the second scenario, this is generally because of:
- larger sibling groups and carers not having capacity to take on large numbers of children;
- vast age groups of siblings; or
- varying care needs of siblings.
Benefits of keeping sibling groups together
There are many benefits of keeping siblings in foster care together. The Create Foundation Sibling Report has stated that siblings who are kept together, or partially together, during their care experience tend to reunify with their birth families much faster than those who don’t. They are also more likely to experience stability.
The report also identified particular significance of this practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in care, given the cultural significance of family. Children from these groups are noted to have a sense of responsibility to their other siblings and ensuring they feel safe and supported within each other's presence.
Some other major benefits that are considered when placing siblings in foster or kinship care, together include:
- it supports a stronger sense of identity and connection to family and culture
- they experience greater levels of self-esteem
- it reduces feelings of loss and trauma
- they will tend to experience stronger placement stability
- it’s likely to result in better future adult-sibling relationships
- it increases their sense of safety and permanency
- it results in better overall mental health outcomes than those who are separated.
The need for more sibling group carers
The need for more foster carers who can care for sibling groups is high. Across Southern Queensland, our services need more carers who can care for groups of two or more siblings. This reduces the need for them to be split across several households or to live in residential care homes until the right placement comes up.
You might be a suitable sibling group carer if:
- you're an empty nester;
- your own children are grown up; or
- you don’t have any children of your own but would like to care for children in need.
Can you care for siblings in need?
If you were interested in knowing ‘do siblings get separated in foster care’, the answer is yes, in some instances they do. However, it’s always in the best interest of the children that they remain together, and we will do everything that we can to keep them together or facilitate contact between them, through their carers, where it’s safe and feasible to do so.
If you think you might be interested in caring for a sibling group or would like to learn more about becoming a foster carer and supporting siblings in care, please contact our team on 1300 000 828 or download our range of eGuides for more information.
