Re: Separating siblings for adoption

["aron shlonsky" <as2156@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Patrick,

This is a critical issue that hasn't been looked at very much.  Check out
some of the following:

Avery, R. J. (1998). Information disclosure and openness in adoption: State
policy and empirical evidence. Children and Youth Services Review, 20(1-2),
57-85.

Smith, M. (1998). Sibling placement in foster care: An exploration of associated
concurrent preschool-aged child functioning. Children and Youth Services
Review, 20(5), 389-412.

Thorpe, M. B., & Swart, M. D. (1992). Risk and protective factors affecting
children in foster care: A pilot study of the role of siblings. Canadian
Journal of Psychiatry, 37, 616-622.

Wedge, P., & Mantle, G. (1991). Sibling groups and social work: A study
of children referred for substitute family placement. Vermont: Gower Publishing
Company.

The Casey Family Programs website also has a lot of great info and can be
found at:

http://www.casey.org/cnc/policy_issues/sibling_overview.htm

Good luck,

Aron

PatrickMB2@xxxxxxx wrote:
> The situation I'm researching concerns two pre-schoolers
> and one infant. The oldest preschooler was placed for adoption two years
> ago. The infant is going into the same home. The middle child got stuck in
> the system and both the foster family and the family with the siblings have
> been trying to adopt for some time.
>  
>  Is anyone aware of research on the long-term effect of separating siblings
> for adoption. Is anyone aware of research surrounding the trauma of a turning
> two-old separating from their caregiver or research surrounding the need
> so many adopted children feel to find their siblings. 
>  
>  I'd appreciate any thoughts or suggestion. 

-- 
Aron Shlonsky
Assistant Professor
Columbia University
School of Social Work
622 W.113th St.
New York, NY  10025
212-854-6514
as2156@xxxxxxxxxxxx