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

Summary:
This resolution expresses the sense the Senate 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]
[S. Res. 603 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 603

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 2, 2020

  Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. Capito, Ms. 
  Rosen, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Moran, Mrs. Loeffler, Mr. Inhofe, and Mr. 
 Tillis) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
          Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


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

Whereas sibling relationships are important and should be recognized and 
        respected;
Whereas sibling relationships provide needed continuity and stability during the 
        placement of a child 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 Increasing Adoptions Act of 
        2008 (Public Law 110-351; 122 Stat. 3949) requires that States make 
        reasonable efforts--

    (1) to 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; and

    (2) in a case where siblings are removed from their home and not placed 
jointly, to provide for frequent visitation or interaction between the 
siblings, unless the State documents that frequent visitation or 
interaction 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 all foster children deserve the right to know and be actively involved 
        in the lives of their siblings absent extraordinary circumstances: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate 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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