Remove barriers for contact with familiar adult siblings

About this recommendation

Adult siblings (who have existing relationships with their younger siblings) should not have to jump through hoops for visits. This is especially true for siblings who are only just now aging out of foster care themselves.

How to do this

• Examine whether your system has barriers, like court petitions, background checks, or social worker sign-off, to familiar adult siblings setting up visits. (It is acceptable for some evaluation, like a background check, if the adult sibling is unknown to the sibling or the case, but now wants to be involved.)
• Leverage prudent parenting guidance to encourage visits with familiar adult siblings without Departmental involvement.

Anticipated costs and benefits

Who's doing this

4 of 54 states and territories have implemented this recommendation.

• Fairfax County, VA does not require background checks for children in care to visit and contact their adult siblings (unless case-specific circumstances warrant it).
• Rhode Island considers visits with familiar adult siblings prudent parenting.
• Frederick County, MD does not require background checks for familiar adult siblings to visit with younger siblings. [See their policy on relative visits](/static/assets/SSA 16-16 Family and Friends Contact.pdf){target=_blank}.
• Oklahoma considers visits with adult siblings like other relatives; there is no required background check unless warranted in specific circumstances.