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Bridge Resource Families: Nurture a Sibling Connection

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Bridge Resource Families: Nurture a Sibling Connection Why do siblings need For more information Bridge Resource about how you can help children Families? and families Bridge Resource When a child can no longer remain safe at in your community: Families home due to abuse or neglect, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services seeks to place 1-866-612-2565 the child in a safe, nurturing home. Nurture a Sibling Three out of four children in custody have www.okdhs.org/fostercare Connection at least one brother or sister. Unfortunately, www.okdhs.org/adopt Strengthening Families brothers and sisters are not always able to stay Helping Children Stay Connected together in one home. Approximately 4,000 children in custody live separately from at least one brother or sister. Brothers and Sisters deserve a chance to grow up together To be separated from siblings causes an in a safe, loving home. additional loss to these children. Being with brothers and sisters helps children feel safer Perhaps your home? and offers some sense of stability. OKDHS Pub. No. 08­25C Issued 9/2008 This publication is authorized by the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services in accordance with There is a gap that needs to be filled in state and federal regulations and printed by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services at a cost of $500 for 5,000 copies. Copies have been order for these siblings to be together. You can deposited with the Publications Clearinghouse of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. OKDHS offices may request copies on ADM­9 help bridge this gap by becoming a Bridge (23AM009E) electronic supply orders. Members of the public may obtain copies by contacting the OKDHS Records Center at (405) 962­1721 or Resource Family. 1­877­283­4113 (toll free). Children and Family Services Division Why do siblings need For more information Bridge Resource about how you can help children Families? and families Bridge Resource When a child can no longer remain safe at in your community: Families home due to abuse or neglect, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services seeks to place 1-866-612-2565 the child in a safe, nurturing home. Nurture a Sibling Three out of four children in custody have www.okdhs.org/fostercare Connection at least one brother or sister. Unfortunately, www.okdhs.org/adopt Strengthening Families brothers and sisters are not always able to stay Helping Children Stay Connected together in one home. Approximately 4,000 children in custody live separately from at least one brother or sister. Brothers and Sisters deserve a chance to grow up together To be separated from siblings causes an in a safe, loving home. additional loss to these children. Being with brothers and sisters helps children feel safer Perhaps your home? and offers some sense of stability. OKDHS Pub. No. 08­25C Issued 9/2008 This publication is authorized by the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services in accordance with There is a gap that needs to be filled in state and federal regulations and printed by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services at a cost of $500 for 5,000 copies. Copies have been order for these siblings to be together. You can deposited with the Publications Clearinghouse of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. OKDHS offices may request copies on ADM­9 help bridge this gap by becoming a Bridge (23AM009E) electronic supply orders. Members of the public may obtain copies by contacting the OKDHS Records Center at (405) 962­1721 or Resource Family. 1­877­283­4113 (toll free). Children and Family Services Division What Is A Bridge Resource Family? A Bridge Resource Family is a family who may be asked: To provide temporary care, love and nurturance to the child and serve as a mentor actively helping the parent improve their ability Bridge Resource Sibling Relationships to safely care for their children while staying Family Requirements connected and assisting in the transition to Have the ability to love, understand, care Sibling relationships are emotionally reunification, legal guardianship, or adoption to • for and accept a child to whom they did powerful and critically important, not only in another family; and/or not give birth. childhood, but over the course of a lifetime. To serve as the legal guardian for the child Be at least 21 years of age and preferably Siblings form a child’s first peer group, and • while maintaining a child’s connection to kin, no more than 55 years older than the child children learn social skills, particularly in culture and community; and/or considered for placement. managing conflict, from negotiating with Applicants and each household member, brothers and sisters. Sibling relationships can To adopt the child while maintaining a • 18 years of age or older, must submit provide a significant source of continuity child’s connection to kin, culture and fingerprints for a state and national throughout a child’s lifetime and are likely to be community. criminal history records search. the longest relationships that most people Bridge Resource Families must be willing Submit to a search of all OKDHS records, experience.1 to work toward reunification with the biological • including Child Welfare records. For children entering care, being with family, as well as support and mentor them. Ensure that no household member has a siblings can enhance their sense of safety and • prior conviction of any sexual offense. In circumstances of adoption, Bridge wellbeing. They are not burdened with Attend 27 hours of pre­service training. Resource Families must be willing to assist a wondering where their siblings are and whether • Have sufficient income to meet current child in maintaining contact with the biological or not they are safe. Siblings in the same home • expenses. family, if ties are established. can provide natural support to each other and Be in good physical and mental health to some sense of stability and belonging. • provide for the needs of the child – Continuity of sibling relationships assists physical exam is required. children in maintaining a positive sense of Be legal residents. identity and knowledge of their cultural, • Have a working vehicle and a telephone. 2 • personal and family histories. • Provide sufficient beds and bedrooms for References: additional children. May be married, single, legally separated 1. The importance of siblings, http:// • www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/siblingissues/ siblingissues2.cfm or divorced. Provide information for a family 2. Benefits of placing siblings together, http:// • www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/siblingissues/ siblingissues4.cfm assessment – home study. What Is A Bridge Resource Family? A Bridge Resource Family is a family who may be asked: To provide temporary care, love and nurturance to the child and serve as a mentor actively helping the parent improve their ability Bridge Resource Sibling Relationships to safely care for their children while staying Family Requirements connected and assisting in the transition to Have the ability to love, understand, care Sibling relationships are emotionally reunification, legal guardianship, or adoption to • for and accept a child to whom they did powerful and critically important, not only in another family; and/or not give birth. childhood, but over the course of a lifetime. To serve as the legal guardian for the child Be at least 21 years of age and preferably Siblings form a child’s first peer group, and • while maintaining a child’s connection to kin, no more than 55 years older than the child children learn social skills, particularly in culture and community; and/or considered for placement. managing conflict, from negotiating with Applicants and each household member, brothers and sisters. Sibling relationships can To adopt the child while maintaining a • 18 years of age or older, must submit provide a significant source of continuity child’s connection to kin, culture and fingerprints for a state and national throughout a child’s lifetime and are likely to be community. criminal history records search. the longest relationships that most people Bridge Resource Families must be willing Submit to a search of all OKDHS records, experience.1 to work toward reunification with the biological • including Child Welfare records. For children entering care, being with family, as well as support and mentor them. Ensure that no household member has a siblings can enhance their sense of safety and • prior conviction of any sexual offense. In circumstances of adoption, Bridge wellbeing. They are not burdened with Attend 27 hours of pre­service training. Resource Families must be willing to assist a wondering where their siblings are and whether • Have sufficient income to meet current child in maintaining contact with the biological or not they are safe. Siblings in the same home • expenses. family, if ties are established. can provide natural support to each other and Be in good physical and mental health to some sense of stability and belonging. • provide for the needs of the child – Continuity of sibling relationships assists physical exam is required. children in maintaining a positive sense of Be legal residents. identity and knowledge of their cultural, • Have a working vehicle and a telephone. 2 • personal and family histories. • Provide sufficient beds and bedrooms for References: additional children. May be married, single, legally separated 1. The importance of siblings, http:// • www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/siblingissues/ siblingissues2.cfm or divorced. Provide information for a family 2. Benefits of placing siblings together, http:// • www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/siblingissues/ siblingissues4.cfm assessment – home study. What Is A Bridge Resource Family? A Bridge Resource Family is a family who may be asked: To provide temporary care, love and nurturance to the child and serve as a mentor actively helping the parent improve their ability Bridge Resource Sibling Relationships to safely care for their children while staying Family Requirements connected and assisting in the transition to Have the ability to love, understand, care Sibling relationships are emotionally reunification, legal guardianship, or adoption to • for and accept a child to whom they did powerful and critically important, not only in another family; and/or not give birth.
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