SF3171 - Foster Care Sibling Bill of Rights

• Establishes a foster care sibling bill of rights under Minnesota Statutes chapter 260C, granting children in foster care the right to be placed together with siblings when possible and in each sibling's best interest.

• Requires placement in close geographical distance to siblings if joint placement is not possible, and mandates frequent contact through phone calls, text messaging, social media, video calls, and in-person visits unless documented as contrary to a sibling's safety or well-being.

• Ensures children receive annual telephone numbers, addresses, and email addresses for all siblings in foster care, plus regular updated photographs, and allows participation in celebrations and milestones.

• Mandates that social workers, parents, foster care providers, and older children cooperate to ensure regular visits with timing and regularity outlined in each sibling's service plan, and requires information about sibling contact to be reviewed in court hearings.

• Allows adult siblings to be considered as foster care providers, adoptive parents, and relative custodians for their siblings, and requires child welfare agencies to provide a copy of these rights to all relevant parties by August 1, 2018.