What will the network be doing?
A.
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.
C.
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 plan to host monthly support meetings and provide other tools and supports such as referral services.
E.
B.
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.
D.
Awareness Campaigns- We plan to raise awareness about the long term harms of sibling separations. National Sibling Day is April 10th and foster care month is May. We plan to coordinate with multiple non-profits and journalism outlets to raise awareness about sibling separations.
F.
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.
G.
PROJECTS
Note we don’t plan to provide robust direct services and instead plan to provide Warm handoffs and referrals- There are a number of non-profits that already provide low-cost, sliding scale and free therapy, and family finding services. On an as needed basis - we plan to assist people who reach out by connecting those in need of supports to agencies who are already providing those services.
Research and technical assistance support for state/local programs - Right now we already have one state which is seeking to improve the implementation of sibling rights - Colorado. We hope to work with 3-5 states/provinces or local jurisdictions per year on supporting their efforts and tailoring supports to their local needs.