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.

Bill: 116-sres-603
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2020-06-02
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Adoption and foster care

Family relationships

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2020-06-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S2652)

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-06-02
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>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. </p>

tv_txt: III 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 603 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

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.