Intervening to improve outcomes for siblings in foster care: Conceptual, substantive, and methodological dimensions of a prevention science framework

Bowen McBeath, Brianne H. Kothari, Jennifer Blakeslee, Emilie Lamson-Siu, Lew Bank, L. Oriana Linares, Jeffrey Waid, Paul Sorenson, Jessica Jimenez, Eva Pearson, Aron Shlonsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In recent years, the child welfare field has devoted significant attention to siblings in foster care. Policymakers and practitioners have supported efforts to connect siblings via shared foster placements and visitation while researchers have focused on illuminating the empirical foundations of sibling placement and sibling intervention in child welfare. The current paper synthesizes literature on sibling relationship development and sibling issues in child welfare in the service of presenting a typology of sibling-focused interventions for use with foster youth. The paper provides two examples of current intervention research studies focused on enhancing sibling developmental processes and understanding their connection to child welfare outcomes. The paper concludes by presenting an emerging agenda informing policy, practice, and research on siblings in foster care.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages10
JournalChildren and Youth Services Review
Volume39
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Child welfare
  • Foster care
  • Intervention
  • Prevention
  • Sibling relationship
  • Siblings

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