This report from the Create Foundation in Australia examines sibling placements in out-of-home care with a focus on the benefits this type of support system can provide. The research analyzes the barriers the Australian child welfare system faces when trying to place siblings together. The author surveyed children with siblings currently in the Australian child welfare system and the caseworkers who work alongside them to obtain data. His presentation of the perspectives of both children in care and caseworkers creates a snapshot into Australian sibling placements, how they are thriving, and how individuals working in the child welfare system can be doing more to ensure each child has a support system while in care with a member of his or her family, specifically siblings.
Drawing upon surveys of 1,160 youth and children, the study found that some of the most outstanding barriers to sibling placements were jurisdiction, age of the children in the sibling groups, and ability status. The study also found that type of care was an important factor in whether or not siblings were placed together. For example, “togetherness,” or all siblings placed together, was found to be more prevalent in kinship care than in foster or residential care. The researchers surveyed the children on whether or not siblings placed together had a greater chance at reunification with their families. The research did not show that children placed with siblings had greater advantage at reunification than any other children in care; however the study did find that children placed with their siblings were more likely to contact their parents. This exemplifies the notion that placing siblings together can facilitate a better-rounded support system. The second section of the study looks at similar factors regarding sibling placements from the caseworkers’ perspectives. Of those interviewed, about seventy-five percent of caseworkers knew the policies surrounding sibling placements and that most agencies attempt to keep siblings together when possible. When asked whether or not the caseworkers prefer children to be placed in sibling groups, most caseworkers reported that they believed it is best and though they cannot always find accommodating placements, they will advocate and search for placements that keep as many of the siblings together as possible because of the positive effect of sibling placement on the children’s feelings of support and stability.
