There is a national shortage of foster carers who are able to look after siblings. Yet, the benefits for both the children and the carer cannot be discussed enough. While not everyone has space, those who do could be missing out on a great opportunity to enhance their skills and provide a safe space for children, who would otherwise be separated. Read about the benefits in the post below.
Preserving the Sibling Bond
The moment that children are assigned a new foster home is often an anxious time for them. If they are able to go through this journey together with their sibling, that unspoken but highly acknowledged bond will make all the difference in how each child adapts and settles in. It is this relationship that should be preserved and protected at all costs, because siblings, regardless of age gap or gender, are connected.
Reduce Isolation
Sometimes, children in new foster homes may self-isolate to a certain extent. However, if they are able to live with their sibling then the risk of this becoming a problem is lowered. They will naturally associate with one another because their temporary safe space will be when they are around each other.
Protecting Well-being
If you step back for a second and try to look at foster care from the child’s perspective, you begin to see just how tiring the whole process must be. They are removed from all of their familiar surroundings and placed in a new bedroom with strange people. This situation, while only ever undertaken if absolutely necessary, is overwhelming and a real setback for their general well-being. Yet, if they are together with a sibling, they will have an anchor point to settle into the change with. So, both children have a strong link to their new home, and it will be an organic sense of comfort.
Better Regulation Potential
Fostered siblings have the potential to regulate their big feelings better because they have already learned to rely on each other to cope with difficult circumstances in most cases. When the children are removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect, or similar behaviours, they will be naturally akin to supporting one another. This means, that when they move in, they will already have these core skills in place and will be using them all of the time.
How to Foster Siblings
So, now you understand the key advantages, how do you go about fostering siblings? The first check is to ensure you have enough bedroom space for the children. While it is not unheard of for younger siblings close in age to share a bedroom, it is rare in the fostering network. Next, you must talk to your agency because Fosterplus Scotland has a high demand for sibling carers, but others might not. If there are opportunities, then it will be your job to go through additional training in preparation for the children moving in.
So, there are loads of advantages for carers who foster siblings. Children, who are kept together, have better potential for a stable environment and improved wellbeing.