Sibling Groups

Many children waiting for adoption are members of sibling groups. Research has shown that most children have better outcomes when they are able to maintain ties with their brothers and sisters. Most agencies work to place siblings in the same foster or adoptive home. When placing sibling groups in the same home is not possible, it is important that siblings maintain connections, when appropriate. Find resources in this section to learn about the adoption of children in sibling groups.

5 Reasons to Consider Adopting a Sibling Group
Indiana Adoption Program (2020)
Presents five key reasons for families to consider adopting a sibling group, including the sense of stability and security siblings provide, the mental health and attachment benefits, and more.

11 Essential Things to Know Before Adopting Siblings
Davenport (2015)
Explores the ways in which siblings may react differently to adoption in order to prepare parents for sibling adoption from foster care. The website includes a recording of an episode of the Creating a Family radio show, featuring a conversation with an adoption social worker and an adoption therapist on adopting siblings.

Adopting Siblings
A Family for Every Child (2020)
Discusses the ways in which adopting sibling groups can ease the transition into adoptive families and lessen the pressure and trauma a child might feel as a result of this change in their environment.

Helping Your Adopted Children Maintain Important Relationships With Family

Series Title	Factsheets for Families
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 337KB) Order (Free)
Year Published	2019

Helps adoptive parents support children, youth, and birth families in strengthening their relationships. Children and youth who have been adopted and maintain relationships with their birth families, caregivers, and other important people in their lives benefit in significant ways. Adoptive parents can play an instrumental role in helping their children maintain contact with their birth families or other important caregivers.

The Importance of Maintaining Sibling Connections in Foster Care
Jernstrom & White (2014)
Adoption Advocate, 71
National Council for Adoption
Promotes the importance of maintaining sibling connections in the foster care system, information on the Federal law that mandates reasonable efforts be made to keep siblings together, three legal obstacles to sibling coplacement, and the potential changes to Federal law.

Keeping Siblings Together
AdoptUSKids (2020)
Explains why sibling relationships are important to children in foster care. This resource also answers commonly asked questions about adopting sibling groups.

Sibling Issues in Foster Care and Adoption

Series Title	Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 328KB) Order (Free)
Year Published	2019

Explores relevant research, strategies, and resources to assist child welfare professionals in preserving connections among siblings. Sibling relationships can provide positive support and improved outcomes for children involved with child welfare as well as for those in the general population. Connections with siblings can serve as a protective factor for children who have been removed from their birth homes, but for a variety of reasons, siblings may not be placed together or may not have regular contact.

Ten Myths and Realities of Sibling Adoption (PDF - 103 KB)
National Resources Center for Diligent Recruitment (2014)
Dispels myths about adopting siblings from foster care and provides facts that highlight the benefits of sibling adoption. The article summarizes key provisions of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 that relate to sibling placements.

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