Sibling Bonds Matter: Foster Parents Make Connection Possible
When a child enters foster care, the world shifts overnight. A new home. New rules. New faces. In the middle of all that change, one thing often matters more than anything else: a sibling.
A brother who knows your favorite snack.
A sister who remembers your bedtime routine.
Someone who understands your story.
And yet, across the country, most of these relationships are interrupted when children enter foster care. Between 65% and 85% of children in foster care have siblings also in care—but more than half are separated. Often, it’s not by choice; there simply aren’t enough homes with space for sibling groups.
But at Thornwell, we are committed to making maintaining family connections possible – because it matters.
When a family group of three recently entered care through Thornwell, no single home could take them all. Different ages. Different needs. Limited space. It could have been a story of separation. Instead, it became a story of community.
Three Thornwell foster families each said yes to one child. Together, they said yes to all three.
The *Bakers welcomed the youngest.
The *Garcias opened their home to a school-aged child.
And the *Browns made space for a teenager.
Together, they made sure these siblings didn’t lose each other.
Angie, one of the foster moms, remembers that moment clearly:
When we first got the call, my husband and I were very happy. We found out that the other sibling would be across the street from us. We thought this was perfect, because they would still get to see each other.”
And they do. Sometimes it’s planned—shared meals, coordinated visits. Sometimes it’s simple.
If he starts to miss her, he’ll point across the street. A few times my husband saw the sibling playing outside, and then we went out to see them.”
Why Siblings Matter So Much
Sibling relationships are often the longest-lasting relationships in a person’s life. For children in foster care, they are more than family — they are stability.
Research shows children meaningful connected with siblings experience:
- Increased stability and fewer behavioral challenges
- Fewer placement disruptions
- Preservation of identity, culture, and connection
That’s why Thornwell works intentionally – every single day – to keep siblings connected, even when they can’t live under one roof.
A Team That Makes It Possible
Behind every placement into a foster home is Thornwell’s Foster Care team that refuses to settle for “what’s easiest,” collaborating to find creative solutions – like placing siblings in nearby homes, encouraging shared routines, and building relationships between foster families.
Angie put it simply:
Thornwell is awesome to foster through. We have so much support. Anytime there was a problem, it’s taken care of.”
You Can Make Connection Possible
Right now, there are siblings entering foster care who don’t know if they’ll see each other again. You can change that. Not everyone will foster, but everyone can do something to support children in foster care and the families that welcome them in.
May is Foster Care Awareness Month. Make this the month that you find your role in serving children and families impacted by foster care.
- Become a Foster Parent
- Join Thornwell’s Foster Care Village
- Support Thornwell Foster Parents and the children in their care
*Foster families’ last names have been changed to protect their privacy.