Adopting Siblings

Did you know that more than 1,000 siblings in Washington state foster care are waiting for an adoptive family in which they can grow up together? When you have a brother or a sister, you probably cannot imagine your life without them. Sadly, many children, who enter foster care are separated from their siblings. If you consider adopting a child, you may want to consider adopting a sibling group of two or three children.

Brothers can continue to grow up together

Chad and his sons

Chad, a single father, adopted Sam (9) and Jacob (14) through Amara. The brothers were part of a larger sibling group that also included two sisters and another older brother. The five children entered foster care together when their father was incarcerated; their mother had passed away three years earlier. Although the siblings initially shared a foster placement, they soon were split up. In a one year period, Jacob had lived in seven different foster homes.

“Try to imagine that your family has been terribly hurt, that your family is broken up, and that you have to live with another family. Wouldn’t you grieve about what you’ve lost?” says Chad. “I cannot imagine that Jacob and Sam would not live together. They have a very strong connection and they have each other to fall back upon. Luckily, we often can get together with their sisters and brother. When I told Jacob and Sam that I wanted to adopt them, I also said, “Let’s not forget that you already have a family—you’ll have two families.”

More information about siblings in foster care