We know that fostering one child can provoke some anxieties. The thought of fostering 2, 3 or more young children at the same time may seem even more daunting.
Sadly, because of this, thousands of siblings are separated when they come into foster care.
This can affect the children’s quality of life, and have an impact on their mental health.
We make every effort to keep siblings together. Their relationships with each other, support they provide each other and their shared experiences all enhance their physical and emotional wellbeing.
Caring for siblings is not just beneficial for the children, but it can also be a truly great experience for the foster carer.
The benefits of fostering siblings
If you have not thought about fostering sibling groups, below you will discover a few reasons to consider this possibility.
Siblings who are kept together often adjust easier to their new foster home.
A key concern for many foster carers is how the child will settle in. While all carers are provided with full support and training, it can still be daunting when accepting a child into your home for the first time.
Studies have shown that siblings who are kept together settle into foster care more quickly.
As siblings are often happier and more comfortable when they are kept together, they’re likely to adjust quicker and develop a better relationship with you.
They will feel more at ease and will have more trust in you, as they will not be alone or isolated.
Many of our children have already lost so much when coming into care. They should not have to lose their siblings as well.
Helping any vulnerable child is a rewarding experience.
With siblings, you can make a difference to not just one child, but a family.
While it’s more challenging taking in more than one child at a time, the rewards more than make up for the extra work.
If you're approved to care for siblings, your fostering allowance will compensate for this.
You’ll also have an excellent support system available, as well as be provided with full and detailed training to ensure you have the necessary skills.
Interested in fostering siblings
Fostering siblings is a wonderful experience. It makes a significant difference to the children, not just in the short-term, but in the long-term too.
Contact us if you can keep siblings together, and offer them the time, patience, perseverance and space needed.