Protecting Sibling Relationships in Foster Care Act

More help keeping siblings together

If enacted, the Department of Health and Human Services would run a five-year pilot starting on the date of enactment. HHS would award up to 5 competitive grants and authorize up to $10,000,000 total, available during the five-year period. Grants would fund specialized foster-care programs to find and place sibling groups of three or more, wide age-range groups, and groups that include a youth with complex needs. Eligible applicants would include state child welfare agencies, tribal or local agencies, faith- or community-based groups, and nonprofits with foster-care experience and state supervision. Applicants would need to describe planned fund use, program design, data on siblings awaiting placement, and other information HHS reasonably requires. Grant funds could be used only to develop evidence-based programs proven to substantially increase joint sibling placements. Recipients would have to report program size, sibling-group sizes, placement methods, and placement outcomes to HHS. The bill defines youth with complex needs to include severe mental-health needs, disabilities as defined under the ADA, life-threatening or continuously monitored illnesses, challenging or risky behaviors, trauma, or placement complications from different parentage.