Siblings in Adoption and Foster Care: Traumatic Separations and Honored Connections

213 Pages·2008·3.017 MB·English

by  Deborah N. Silverstein, Susan Livingston Smith

Siblings in Adoption and Foster Care
http://avaxhome.ws/blogs/ChrisRedfield
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Siblings in Adoption and Foster Care
Traumatic Separations and
Honored Connections
EDITED BY
DEBORAH N. SILVERSTEIN
AND
SUSAN LIVINGSTON SMITH
Foreword by Adam Pertman
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Siblingsinadoptionandfostercare:traumaticseparationsandhonoredconnections/
editedbyDeborahN.SilversteinandSusanLivingstonSmith.
p.cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978–0–313–35143–3(alk.paper)
1. Adoptedchildren—Familyrelationships.2. Fosterchildren—Familyrelationships.3.
Brothersandsisters. I.Silverstein,Deborah,1947–II.Smith,SusanLivingston.
HV875.S54 2009
362.73085’5—dc22 2008033668
BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationDataisavailable.
Copyright©2009byDeborahN.SilversteinandSusanLivingstonSmith
Allrightsreserved.Noportionofthisbookmaybe
reproduced,byanyprocessortechnique,withoutthe
expresswrittenconsentofthepublisher.
LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber:2008033668
ISBN:978–0–313–35143–3
Firstpublishedin2009
PraegerPublishers,88PostRoadWest,Westport,CT06881
AnimprintofGreenwoodPublishingGroup,Inc.
www.praeger.com
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
Thepaperusedinthisbookcomplieswiththe
PermanentPaperStandardissuedbytheNational
InformationStandardsOrganization(Z39.48–1984).
10987654321
Toallthechildren,who,throughnofaultoftheirown,wereseparatedfromtheir
siblings.Andtoalltheparents,socialworkers,therapists,childadvocates,legis-
lators,anddecenthumanbeingswhotrytopreventthatheartbreakortrytoright
thatwrong.
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Contents
ForewordbyAdamPertman ix
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xv
ListofAbbreviations xvii
1.Full,Half,Step,Foster,Adoptive,andOther:TheComplexNature 1
ofSiblingRelationships
DianeF.Halpern
2.SiblingsinFosterCareandAdoption:WhatWeKnow 13
fromResearch
SusanLivingstonSmith
3.SiblingConnections:TheImportanceofNurturingSiblingBonds 27
intheFosterCareSystem
MaryAnneHerrickandWendyPiccus
4.TheExperienceofSiblingLossintheAdjustmentofFosterand 43
AdoptedChildren
DavidBrodzinsky
viii Contents
5.TheRightsofSiblingsinFosterCareandAdoption: 57
ALegalPerspective
WilliamWesleyPatton
6.SiblingIssuesinOpenAdoptionArrangements:Non-biologically 69
RelatedAdoptedSiblings’ExperienceswithBirth-FamilyContact
JericaM.Berge,KevinM.Green,HaroldGrotevant,
andRuthMcRoy
7.KeepingSiblingConnectionAlive 83
SharonRosziaandCynthiaRoe
8.TheCreationofaFalseSelf:ASurvivalStrategyforSiblingsof 95
WoundedAdoptedorFosterChildren
MichaelTrout
9.‘‘Suddenly,Sisters!’’:SiblingAdjustmentinReunion 109
SusanThompsonUnderdahl
10.PracticeStrategiestoPreserveSiblingRelationships 123
DeborahN.SilversteinandSusanLivingstonSmith
11.MentalHealthStrategiestoSupportSiblingRelationships: 139
NonverbalInterventionstoProcessTraumaandMaintainthe
SiblingBond
MargaretCreek
12.PermanencyforSiblingsinKinshipFamilies 153
CarolBiddleandCarolJ.Bishop
Conclusion:WhatHaveWeLearned?WhereDoWeNeedtoGo? 165
SusanLivingstonSmithandDeborahN.Silverstein
References 167
Index 183
AbouttheEditorsandContributors 191
Foreword
Astheheadofanorganizationthatconductsresearch,Ifeelcompelledto
beginthisforewordbyextollingtheinestimablevirtuesofresearch.Itpro-
vides knowledge we never had before; it shatters myths and offers
insights; and perhapsmostimportant (whenwe’re payingattention), it
empowersustomakebetterdecisionsbothinourpersonallivesand in
our society. Sometimes, it even serves the simple but vital function of
affirmingtheobvious.
Thisthoughtful,challengingbookaccomplishesallofthoseobjectives
and,insodoing,strivesforaloftyyetachievablegoal—tohelpreshape
policiesandpracticesinourcountrysothattheybetterservethetensof
thousandsoffosterandadoptedchildreneachyearwhoaredeprivedof
relationshipswiththeirbrothersandsisters.
Itturnsoutthatsiblingconnectionsaresignificant,astarkaffirmation
of the obvious that runs through virtually all the studies cited between
these covers. More pointedly, a growing body of research makes it
increasingly clear that separating siblings can have detrimental effects
on them, while maintaining their bonds can yield developmental, psy-
chic,andsocialbenefits.
Allthoseconclusionsseemsointuitivelyevidentthatonemightreason-
ably ask whether they need to be stated at all. They do indeed, as evi-
denced by the simple fact that thousands of siblings are placed into
different families every year;are oftennot enabled toseetheirbrothers
andsistersevenwhenitispossibletodoso;aresometimesnoteventold
thereareboysandgirlsouttheretowhomtheyarerelated;and,inareal-
itythatismoredifficulttoaccept,areplacedintothesesortsofsituations