Twice A Month Is NOT Enough!!!

That is my rally cry for keeping sibling connections as a priority when children are placed into care.  I was at the Youth Advisory Board Leadership Event this past week.  Youth after youth, shared their stories about how one of the biggest obstacles was losing their siblings to the system.  Some of them have no idea who they are because they were placed into care at very young ages, and then adopted out.  When youth are not able to be placed with their siblings, EVERY effort should be made to maintain those relationships.  Twice a month visits in an agency is simply not enough for the well-being of our children in care. 

Stay tuned for videos, poems and guest blogs by youth in care who want to stay connected, connected to their families and siblings of origin.  Next Blog: One Home, Not Alone!

*If you are a foster alum who wishes to add to Babs' Brew's campaign to maintain sibling connections, please hit me up via email or comment section!

Pennsylvania has too Much Reliance on Group Homes!

Youth who are streamlined into group homes lose out on the development of family and permanent connections that are vital for their transition into adulthood. Why is Pennsylvania so reliant on group homes? Other states have managed to increase placement into relative foster care and have even reduced the number of children in their child welfare systems by 50%! Its time for things to change, especially when it comes to serving our most vulnerable children. You can find a data snapshot from KidsCount from the link below.

PAP4Children: Too Much Reliance on Group Homes in PA: "The good news - according to the federal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting Systems (AFCARS) - is that the total number of children in foster care has declined from 544,303 in 2000 to 423,773 in 2009. Furthermore, 37 states have reduced group home or institutional placements since 2000 with five states reducing their numbers by more than 50 percent."