Month in Review: February 2025
As we welcome spring today, it's almost hard to remember that just last month we were immersed in the full-fledged snow, ice, and germs that come along with winter (flu and COVID hit several of our staff members hard!). February also brought with it referrals for 40 children needing foster care. Here is a further breakdown of the statistics:
Age:
- 0-2: 7 children
- 3-5: 4 children
- 6-8: 5 children
- 9-11: 6 children
- 12-14: 8 children
- 15-17: 9 children
- 18+: 1 child
Sibling Groups:
- 19 single children
- 6 sibling groups of 2
- 2 sibling groups of 3
- 1 sibling group of 4
When looking at these stats, it is super important to consider the number of sibling groups when wondering why we are not able to find homes for more of the children. It could be tempting to look at the list and think, "Look - there were 7 babies!" Or you might think something like, "More than half of the children referred are under the age of 12." And while these two statements are true, they don't paint the full picture. While we do, in fact, have many families who are open to a child under the age of 12, when you consider the fact that many of these children are part of sibling groups, the options quickly dwindle.
For example, there may be a 1 year old who is part of a sibling group of 3 that includes a 4 year old and a 9 year old. We would have many families open to taking just one of those children, maybe a few who could take two of them, but rarely would we have a family able to take all 3 of the children. Sadly, this often prevents us from being able to place a larger sibling group but the even sadder reality is that if this same scenario is repeated across every agency, the county may have no choice but to separate the siblings.
When listening to the perspectives of adults who spent time in foster care, they almost always report deep grief and trauma at being separated from their siblings. It is often depicted as one of the greatest shortcomings of the child welfare system, and rightfully so. However, nobody sets out to separate siblings and it is never something that we take lightly. While we deeply long to keep siblings together, the only way that we can accomplish that is by finding foster families who are open to doing so.
There are several barriers to this. First of all, the state limits the total number of children who can live in a foster home to 6. So if foster parents already have 4 biological children, they are only able to take 2 foster children. (The state does grant waivers to this policy in certain instances, but it is not easy to get this approved for an initial placement, and we typically would not have time to complete the waiver process for an emergency foster placement.) Another barrier is fear - families feel overwhelmed by the thought of taking in a large group of children at once. When siblings span a large age range, it can be challenging because the families who are open to teens may not be willing to take little ones, and vice versa. And when one of the children in a sibling group has special needs, it makes this challenge even greater.
While it is most certainly not easy to become an "instant family" by taking in a large sibling group, our goal is to provide our families with the support and resources they need to successfully navigate this challenging (but rewarding!) task. At the end of the day, seeing the joy that comes with keeping siblings together makes all of the challenges more than worth it. While taking one young child may be the "easiest" option for many foster families (after all, it mimics how a family is naturally formed), there are hundreds of sibling groups in Pennsylvania who are longing to be given the chance to stay together. If a foster family is brave and generous enough to give them that chance, it could make all the difference for them.
If you are a current foster parent, and you have the space in your home to take more than one child, would you consider widening your preferences to allow a sibling group to stay together?
If you are considering becoming a foster parent, or know somebody who would make a great family for a sibling group, please contact us!
Want to receive monthly statistics and other helpful content in your inbox? Sign up for our email newsletter here.