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OLYMPIA (AP) — Going into foster care is scary enough. Imagine losing your brothers and sisters at the same time. That’s exactly what happens to many children in Washington state who are separated from their siblings when they enter foster homes. A bill making its way through the state House would give siblings the right to visit each other while they're in foster care. “To keep these kids apart is adding to their trauma,” said Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, who sponsored the bill. The Senate passed the bill earlier this month. A House committee heard public testimony on the bill Monday and seemed eager to pass it. “LT assumed that we had ex isting law” on keeping siblings together, said Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park. “This makes an important step.” The Department of Social and Health Services has a policy of trying to keep siblings togeth er in foster care, but a shortage of foster care parents makes that hard to do. The agency also fol lows an informal policy of en couraging visitation whenever possible — Senate Bill 6702 would make that law. “This just makes sure it hap pens,” said Laverne Lamoureux with the DSHS Children’s Ad ministration, which supports the bill, as does the governor's of fice. About 12,000 children a year enter foster care in Wash ington. The state is currently try ing to recruit and retain more foster parents.
Newspaper Details
Centralia Chronicle
Centralia, Washington, US
Tue, Feb 26, 2002
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Megan B.
USA 16 Feb 2026
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