Have you ever considered being a home for siblings? Many of us are already providing placement for siblings in our homes. Why do you foster siblings?
For those of you who are licensed for one it may not be an option but for those of you who are licensed for 2 or more what are the barriers that are keeping you from taking in siblings?
1. Age differences :. don't fit our lic.
ReplyDelete2. Gender; we only do boys
3. Older ones parenting the younger ones.
4. One or both have significantly wrong roles or ideas of appropriateness with being siblings.
5. They like to conspire together and gang up on our bio kids more so than when there are non related multiple placements
6. Usually have one parent that is not the same for both and then there is competition of which parent(dad) gave the better visit, gift, lunch option etc.
We've had a few sibling sets. The younger sets are difficult because they're usually close in age. It's hard to have an infant and toddler, or two toddlers!!
DeleteWith the older siblings we have faced the "us versus them" issue.
we LOVE to keep the siblings together (even when they tell us they would rather be apart). it's part of the reason we are foster parents. It's amazing to see a 15 month old walk over to his 5 week old sister to gently pat her head. He KNOW'S she is part of his forever life, even if the rest of it is crazy, she is still there.
I do like to keep the siblings together, but it's also expensive. We're taking two or three children in at the same time. They usually don't have appropriate clothing, shoes, jackets, school supplies, etc... then there is the allowance issue. We had six kids a few months ago. We were shelling out $60+ dollars a WEEK (according to the state guidelines of a dollar a week per year of age). Also, the food bills, the doctor appointments, the activities (all our fosters participate in a sport or other activity that they enjoy.
Really, what it comes down to (for us) is money. Unless you're extremely wealthy, can just purchase what you need, when you need it, pay for sitters when you need them, pay for help around the house (six kids laundry is crazy) and afford that number kiddo's, then you're really taxed. I stay at home with the kids (often necessary for schedules, extra help for catching up on skills or school, etc...) so our budget is tight. If it weren't for support from organizations like Sibling House, we couldn't handle siblings at all.