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ABOUT THE NETWORK
Building what the system hasn't -
a national home for sibling connection
The National Network for Fostering Sibling Connections brings together social workers, attorneys, judges, caregivers, researchers, and people with lived experience — all working toward one goal.
~200,000+
foster youth separated from their siblings right now
Federal and state laws exist to protect sibling connections. They require placement together when possible. They mandate frequent visitation. And yet, foster youth are routinely placed away from their siblings. Courts rarely consider the damage separation causes. This is not a small problem. And it has not had a national home, until now.
WHY SIBLING CONNECTION MATTER
The sibling relationship is often the longest relationship a person will ever have
When a child enters foster care, they have already experienced one of the most destabilizing losses imaginable. Their siblings are often the one consistent thread — the relationship that holds memory, identity, and belonging together.
Research confirms what foster alumni have always known: sibling relationships shape self-esteem, academic outcomes, future health, and employability. Separation doesn't just hurt in the moment. It causes lifelong grief and yearning — even short separations leave marks.
WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT IT
In our first year:
200+
volunteers recruited, including lived experience leaders and pro bono attorneys
500+
professionals trained - caregivers, lawyers, judges, social workers
1,000+
professionals we plan to train next year
Legal research on sibling rights conducted across multiple states
Technical assistance provided to local programs and state agencies
Stakeholders convened from every part of the child welfare system
Individuals connected with resources and support within their own states
OUR NETWORK
Cross-sector, national, and built for impact
Our members include stakeholders from every part of the country and every role in the system — because sibling connection is not a problem any one profession can solve alone.
People with lived experience
Dependency Attorneys
Judges
Social Workers
CASAs
Foster, Kinship, & Adoptive Caregivers
Policy Experts & Researchers
Nonprofit Partners
"The failure to maintain sibling relationships in foster care harms children's ability to form their identities, deprives them of a vital source of support as they grow and develop, and causes lifelong grief and yearning."
- American Bar Association, Sibling Toolkit
Ready to get involved or bring our work to your state?