Understand the importance of integrating and maintaining on-going communication and connection between siblings; understand sibling dynamics and the importance of sibling bonds; know how to navigate and support visits with siblings; recognize the importance of maintaining connections with extended family members and the community at large (i.e., schools, church, friends, sporting teams); identify strategies to keep children connected to their community; understand the role of parents who are fostering in maintaining these connections.

• Explain how parents who are fostering or adopting can help children maintain connections with extended family members and community of origin.
• Identify effective strategies to maintain communication between separated siblings.
• Identify issues that may arise when promoting communication with extended family members and potential solutions to these issues.
• Know the importance of maintaining relationships with siblings and extended family members.

• Belief that it is important to actively maintain children’s connections to siblings (including those born later), extended family members, and community is important when possible.
• Willing to blend family traditions to honor and/or include siblings and extended family.

• Demonstrate ways to create authentic connections to siblings, extended family, and community.