Should the foster care system make a priority of keeping brothers and sisters together?

god yes the poor mites benn through enough they need the security of thier brothers or sisters

In normal circumstances. However, if the brother and sister murdered their mum and dad together then perhaps it is best they are split apart.

As a parent who has raised 3 foster children two of which were full brothers , one was a half brother .
Absolutely yes , Family should be kept together at all costs, only in extreme cases should they be allowed to be split up . A the end of the day , all we really have in this world is our reputation and our Family .

While the obvious answer is "Yes, of course," and I agree that in general that should be the policy and a priority, siblings can abuse each other, just like parents can can abuse kids.

I think, however, that it's possible that sibling abuse may have even more far reaching effects. Child abuse by the parents can be seen as almost "okay" by children, because of a "they are the parents and they know best" type attitude, or maybe it's been since birth, and they don't know anything else. However, I think we naturally look to siblings for protection, because they are our peers and are going through the same things.

In rare cases where abuse of any form may be involved, or if they just don't get along AT ALL (which would probably point to abuse of some type also,) it might be better for all involved if they were separated.

I would say Yes it is a priority, whenever possible.

Not only kids suffer that don't have parents, but they live their new life with siblings around at least. If you take away a sibling it's way too traumatic for them.

I salute you for such a great question. 5++

Undoubtedly, the pain of seperation is unbearable and endured in silence. Can only speak as the younger child, but I'm sure it's the same for all. I would have preferred being left to fend for ourselves.

yes they should but it's often not possible. There are not enough foster homes with openings to do that. They often have to send foster kids to homes in different states or cities just to find a place for them.

yes. that is the only family that they have they need that comfort.

Yes they should keep them together.

I AM A 21 YEAR OLD MAN, WHO GREW UP IN FOSTER CAN IN FLORIDA FROM AGE OF 1 year old, white blond hair blue eyed boy !..I personally lived in the "system" for my entire life until i ran away when i was 16 year old, i lived in 1 really good home that help me become and man, but they where only a family with big heart, no money, nothing to give but bedroom and good principles, they took in thousand of kids only to retire because of all the bad attention and people trashing there name, but i also lived in some of the worst homes out there,homes that made you leave the house at 6am not return until 8pm when it time to go to bed, the worst parts about the system to keep this short are as follows,
1.the people who where "considering adopting" like one kid, it was total joke it was like "rent a kid" then they throw you back to the system when you don't "fit in".

2.all the BS consolers and doctors pushing drugs down your throat if you do have the right attitude towards "the system" and accept there reality.

3.having white children in black home, sound racists im sorry but it was weird being the white kid, im sure it wasnt fun for the black kids trying to explain to kids at school why they live in white home either.

3. people who use blog threads and comment sections to make 3rd party comments, and stats about how bad the system is and talk about the people who come from the system and all the problems they might have or do have, and forget that the internet is forever and there comments will be seen by people from "the system" one day.

4. turning 18 years and no ones gives shit and the system no longer cares, yea it super hard to have NO family support,then the pay check stop, and then Obama passed credit card reform bill that say you have to be 21 before your issued credit unless you have parents co sign!..(ummmm what about the people who want to go to college? what about the 3 year before we hit 21???? me personally amex,visa have been the only parents to ever give me dime, of course at 30%,but now all the young people coming into the system are screwed.)

5. knowing that your simply a stat and test dummie for government that doesnt help anyone, and your only worth $600 dollars a month, until someone decides your no longer worth that much and shift you to another home or location.

6.allowing the school system to inform all your teacher of who you are and problems they might have with you?

7. parents who come back into kids lives after years of separation and think they can do the job better than the parents caring for the child, ( look if you gave up dont come back until you got damn good solution and reason why this happen, not one foster kid need parents to come back and pretend they did it right, or can do it right, if you come back, earn it, work your ass of to make it right even if you never will.most of all dont tell the people taking care of your kids what to do cuz your not the one doing it.
8. not keeping brother and sister together, there all each other got, and will have.

I could go on and on, but reality is im not helping by doing this,every kid or person that was every in the system that i meet became my sister or brother, i have lost contact with almost all of them due the shuffling game, some where true rebels without a cause just needed direction, just needed mentor,people who don't get paid to chill with them, but want to, i got lucky, im 21 years old and i attached myself to people who didnt mind mentoring me and my ADD good people who didnt give rats ass about my past which is good cuz it something people want to stand far away from, i understand there alot of good people in the system trying very hard and i tip my hat to you and say please dont give up, but there far more people who are not good and not helping and the government is the first people to look at, again the people are good, the government has its own intention for foster kids, remember we belong to them,we government property, who knows why im not with my parents,but every random soul i did meet who did try make difference, even if they dont know it,i will always remember and so will god...also if your in the system reading this statement know that there are force bigger than this world, meaning GOD brought you to this post, he is watching, stay positive,and find your pride, its deep inside, and when you do, where it like badge of honor, your true solider who made it on your own... and start your own family.

"i am watching", "i do listen", and "i just think no one cares"

I have story that way to long for this comment box but every one person can make difference, i devote my life to this mission and helping people, i hope one day i can truly make difference in foster system, but only with more people in our community who care about the neighbors.

I think YES, especially if they're old enough to be attached to each other. Actually, the fear of myself and four younger siblings being seperated is one of the main things that caused me to lie about being abused to social workers on more than one occasion. There are other people out there like me. If that isn't reason enough to insure siblings stay together, I don't know what is.