Alarmingly, up to 85% of youth in foster care are separated from their siblings. For children who have already experienced immense trauma from being removed from their parents, staying connected with siblings is vital. This is where the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition’s program 30 Days to Family® comes in: to ensure siblings stay together.
But was 30 Days to Family® up to a sibling group of eight?
When the children, aged 1 to 13, entered foster care, their 30 Days to Family® specialist, Erin, knew it would be a difficult case. However, she was up to the challenge.
To give the siblings the best chance of staying together, Erin needed to rapidly build a big family tree. Immediately, she launched into family-finding efforts: searching databases, scouring the internet, making phone calls, and knocking on doors.
Remarkably, the children’s biological mother was helpful, too, which is not always the case. Within only a few days, the kids’ family tree included 137 relatives.
Four family members were very eager to help, but none had enough space in their homes. Erin was so impressed with their passion for keeping the kids within the family, that they came up with a unique solution, and it worked!
In only one week from the day the children entered foster care, they were reunited with family: the oldest two girls were placed with an aunt; the middle three were placed with an uncle and his wife; the two youngest girls were placed with another aunt; and the baby boy was placed with a third aunt.
Four months later, the kids are flourishing! The aunts and uncle ensure that all eight siblings Facetime and meet up several times a week. The children are getting the individual attention and support they need to heal from their trauma. And their mother has the time she needs to get back on her feet.
It’s the best possible outcome of all!