Sponsored—Across North Carolina, thousands of children rely on foster families for safety and stability. For many, their strongest bond is with a sibling who has shared the same experiences. When children enter foster care, siblings are often their only constant presence. Yet keeping siblings together in the same foster home can be difficult when there aren’t enough families able to welcome multiple children. More foster families who can welcome siblings are critically needed across the state.
When children enter foster care, siblings often turn to one another for comfort. They share a history others may not fully understand and can help each other navigate unfamiliar moments.
Despite the importance of these relationships, siblings are sometimes placed in separate foster homes because not enough families can take more than one child. In some cases, younger children are placed more quickly, while older siblings wait longer. That separation can be especially difficult when older children feel responsible for looking after their younger siblings. Although visits and phone calls can help maintain connections, they can’t fully replace the comfort of living together.
“Being in the substitute care system was really hard, but having my sister with me made things a lot easier. Home is not a place, but people, and being around my sister is when I feel most like myself. Whenever we were separated, I had a really hard time readjusting, and even now, it is hard for us to see each other. That relationship, or lack thereof now, is critical and should have been protected.”
— Elysia L., Moore County
When siblings are placed together in the same foster home, they maintain a vital sense of family and identity. That continuity can help children feel more secure as they adjust. Siblings placed together often support one another through transition. Their bond can ease fear, anxiety, and loneliness, helping children adjust more quickly. Keeping siblings together also helps preserve relationships that can remain meaningful throughout a child’s life.
The Foster Parent Role
Becoming a foster parent in North Carolina may feel like a big step, but the process is designed to prepare families and ensure they have the support they need.
Foster parents provide a temporary home and stable environment for children while families work toward reunification or another permanent plan. They work closely with social workers, birth families, and other professionals to help children stay supported. Foster parents also help create an environment where siblings can continue supporting one another while adjusting to a new home.
The Path to Fostering
The process of becoming a foster parent involves several steps. The first is learning about the foster care role. Prospective foster parents can attend information sessions or speak with local agencies to better understand what fostering involves and what placements may fit their household.
The next step is choosing a licensed agency to guide families through the process. Agencies provide training, coordinate placements, and offer ongoing support.
After selecting an agency, prospective foster parents complete training and meet required standards. Training prepares families to support children who may have experienced trauma and to work closely with professionals involved in a child’s care.
Next, an assessment of the home and the family’s preparedness to foster is conducted. During this stage, agencies review the home environment, discuss household routines, and confirm that safety requirements are met. Once licensed, families may begin receiving placement calls and providing care.
Foster families in North Carolina receive support through programs and resources designed to help them succeed. Organizations such as the Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina offer opportunities for community, training, and peer support. Programs like Success Coach are available post-permanency to help navigate challenges and build stability.
Foster parents also receive financial assistance to help cover everyday expenses, and youth in foster care receive Medicaid coverage for medical and behavioral health services.
Children and teens in foster care also receive support as they prepare for adulthood. Programs such as NC LINKS help youth build life skills, including financial literacy, career exploration, and planning for independence.
Educational support is available through programs like the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program and NC Reach scholarships, which help eligible students pursue college or vocational training.
Together, these programs help young people build a pathway toward opportunity.
Fostering siblings is about more than providing a place to stay. It is about preserving family bonds and offering children the stability of staying together during a difficult time. Keeping siblings together can be especially important in maintaining cultural connections, shared traditions, and a sense of identity that helps children feel grounded.
Foster parents can also play an important role in helping children stay connected to extended family members—supporting relationships with relatives and encouraging those meaningful connections to continue.
By opening your home to siblings in foster care, you can help keep families together. North Carolina offers training, resources, and community support to help foster families every step of the way.
If you’ve ever considered fostering, now is the time to learn more and help siblings stay together when they need each other most.
