Title: Expressing the sense of the Congress that State agencies and other providers of foster care services should make every effort to ensure siblings remain together in the foster system.
Policy area: Families

Summary:
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that foster care services should make every effort to place siblings in the same foster home and provide siblings who are not placed together with opportunities to remain connected.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 95 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 95

  Expressing the sense of the Congress that State agencies and other 
 providers of foster care services should make every effort to ensure 
             siblings remain together in the foster system.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 2020

Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire (for herself, Mrs. Hartzler, Ms. Bass, and 
  Mr. Bacon) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Congress that State agencies and other 
 providers of foster care services should make every effort to ensure 
             siblings remain together in the foster system.

Whereas sibling relationships are important and should be recognized and 
        respected;
Whereas sibling relationships provide needed continuity and stability during a 
        child's placement in foster care;
Whereas the sibling bond is unique and separate from the parent-child bond, and 
        may include relations with people not linked by blood;
Whereas siblings share similar history, heritage, culture, and often biology;
Whereas the Fostering Connections to Success and Promoting Adoption Act of 2008 
        (Public Law 110-351) requires that States place siblings removed from 
        their home in the same foster care, kinship guardianship, or adoptive 
        placement, unless the State documents that such a joint placement would 
        be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings;
Whereas, in a case where siblings are removed from their home and not placed 
        jointly, the State is to provide for their frequent visitation or 
        interaction, unless the State documents that such a joint placement 
        would be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings;
Whereas sibling separation is a significant and distinct loss that must be 
        ameliorated by frequent and regular contact; and
Whereas every foster child deserves the right to know and be actively involved 
        in their siblings' lives absent extraordinary circumstances: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that State agencies and other 
providers of foster care services should--
            (1) make every effort to ensure that children are placed in 
        homes with their siblings;
            (2) ensure that siblings who are not placed together are 
        provided with ample opportunities to communicate with each 
        other and remain connected; and
            (3) in a case where siblings are not placed jointly, 
        document the reasons why.
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