​What will the network be doing?
The National Network for Foster Sibing Connections Provides in Person and Online Trainings - coordinating across silos. We can adapt trainings for lawyers, judges, social workers, CASAs and caregivers so that everyone is not only aware of the laws and why they are so critical, but also so they know their own responsibilities to enforce them and ideas for how they can do that.
​Policy and Practical Tools support - As folks are thinking about how their agencies can implement the law, we can help provide sample trainings, or program policies as needed to assist those wanting to prioritize sibling connections. E.g. We can help provide tools and materials for caregivers, adoptive parents, lawyers, judges, and help review or draft updated court forms, court report templates and other tools that might be used to implement sibling connections.
Support Groups- Many people with lived experience in foster care who are now adults, could benefit from being in community with other adults who’ve experienced sibling disconnections and be part of a peer support network. We support meetings including the first in the nation Sibling Connections Healing Peer Support Circles.
​Awareness Campaigns- We have raised awareness across the country about the long term harms of sibling separations. National Sibling Day is April 10th and foster care month is May. We have successfully partnered with national organizations on awareness efforts including the partnership with the Imprint News - Youth Voice project where members of the national network have submitted OpEds explaining their own experiences with sibling connection and disconnection. https://www.fosteringsiblingconnections.org/press
Other projects: We’ve partnered with the Law Firm DLA Piper and attorneys across the country to providing legal research summaries on sibling connections across the 50 states. We’re providing technical assistance to states, local programs and individual lawyers/CASAs/advocates on sibling advocacy. And we are forming new partnerships for future advocacy, outreach and tangible supports. Stay turned! .
Technical assistance for individual lawyers, social workers, and adults with lived experience as needed. When individuals are working on sibling rights case related questions we will help them find information about the law overall, and provide referrals to support in their area or resources as needed. Although we are unable to take individual cases, we are glad to connect attorneys with research on sibling connections and other attorneys who may be able to help.