NRCPFC Presentation on Sibling Placements and Sibling Visits
The Nebraska Children's Summit is a statewide conference sponsored by the Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative and the Nebraska Supreme Court where participants spend three days focusing on improving the child welfare court system in the State. Specific topics included: infants and toddlers, older youth, educational outcomes, parents' legal representation, and engaging families. Local multidisciplinary teams of judges, attorneys and social workers participated as well as other individuals involved in the child welfare system. Madelyn Freundlich, NRCPFC Consultant, presented the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections Sibling Toolkit as part of the “engaging families” track and provided participants with critical information on their legal obligations regarding sibling placements and sibling visits and on best practices that have been developed across the United States. (2012) Supporting Sibling Relationships PowerPoint Supporting Sibling Relationships: The Roles of Key Stakeholders
Organizational Self Study on Parent-Child and Sibling Visits
NRCPFC created this self study assessment tool to assist agencies with reviewing the core principles of parent-child and sibling visiting. The tool is designed to review overall agency readiness, assess administrative policies, and identify strengths and challenges in parent-child and sibling visiting practice. This assessment tool can aid you in shaping your technical assistance needs. (May 2011)
Siblings in Out-of-Home Care
A brief overview of policy, legislation, litigation, and advocacy from 2002 through 2005. (January 2006)
Training & Curricula
Working with Siblings in Foster Care: A Web-based NRCPFC Toolkit
This new web-based toolkit from the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections (NRCPFC) provides an overview of what we know about sibling relationships for children and youth in foster care; shares children/youth’s views of siblings, as well as legal and policy definitions of siblings; and discusses how siblings are addressed in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 and Child and Family Service Reviews. Based on a review of the literature and current practice, the toolkit is organized into ten dynamic practice components. The toolkit discusses each practice component and provides related resources and policy examples. The toolkit also includes an organizational self study, which child welfare agencies can use to review their policies and practices and identify technical assistance and training needs.
NRCPFC Sibling Practice Curriculum
The overall training objectives of this curriculum are to: enhance understanding of issues concerning siblings in out-of-home care; expand knowledge and skills in making appropriate placement decisions for sibling groups; enhance knowledge and skills in the recruitment and retention of resource families willing and able to parent sibling groups; enhance ability to present appropriate information to the court to support sibling groups; and, increase knowledge of policy and legislation affecting sibling placements in participants' jurisdictions.
Siblings: Critical Life-Long Connections
Listen to the audio files and download handouts from this teleconference on siblings in out-of-home care, hosted jointly by the NRCPFC and the Child Welfare League of America for state foster care and adoption managers. (May 2006)
*Many of these resources were developed previously by the
National Resource Center for
Permanency and Family Connections (NRCPFC).
Research & Reports
Neighbor to Family Sibling Foster Care Model
This brief, available on the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare website, describes the Neighbor to Family Sibling Foster Care Model, a child-centered, family-focused foster care model designed to keep sibling groups, including large sibling groups, together in stable foster care placements while working intensively on reunification or permanency plans that keep the siblings together. It explains that the Neighbor to Family Sibling Foster Care Model began in 1994 serving targeted communities in Chicago and uses a community-based, team-oriented approach, including foster caregivers and birth parents as part of the treatment team. Information is provided on essential components of the model, symptoms and behaviors that the program is designed to address in parents and children, recommended parameters, delivery settings, resources needed to run the program, minimum provider qualifications, educational and training resources for the program, and relevant published, peer-reviewed research findings. The program is given a scientific rating of 3 on a scale of 1-5 and designated as having promising research evidence. (2012)
New York: Flexibility in Sleeping Arrangement Requirements for Sibling Foster Care Placements The purpose of this Informational Letter was to advise local departments of social services and voluntary authorized agencies of newly promulgated amendments to 18 NYCRR 443.3 regarding certification and approval of foster family boarding homes. The regulatory amendments allow greater flexibility for the placement of sibling groups cared for in foster boarding homes. (July 21, 2010)
North Carolina: Fostering Perspectives: Honoring and Maintaining Sibling Connections This issue of Fostering Perspectives, sponsored by the NC Division of Social Services and the Family and Children’s Resource Program, discusses the importance of sibling connections for children and youth in care; how to strengthen these connections; and some ways agencies can support sibling placements. The Kid’s Page includes letters from children and youth about what their siblings mean to them. (November 2009)
