Siblings in Foster Care: An Overview of Research, Policy, and Practice

Abstract

Sibling relationships in the foster care experience have historically taken a back seat to other issues, such as the child–caregiver relationship. Estimates of the number of United States foster children who come from a sibling group range from 65% to 85%. An estimated more than 50% of those children are separated from at least one sibling. The purpose of this article is to review the limited empirical data on siblings in foster care, as well as to provide an overview of the policies and practices that have been influential in the lives of siblings served by the child welfare system.

KEYWORDS:

• siblings
• foster care
• sibling relationship