Bills Sent To Snyder Demand Attempts To Keep Siblings Together In Foster Care, Adoption

LANSING (AP) - Legislation requiring child-placing agencies to make reasonable efforts to keep siblings together in the foster care and adoption systems is going to Gov. Rick Snyder for his signature.

The bills say if siblings could not be placed together due to safety or other concerns, agencies should prioritize sibling visitation and interaction.

The state already places siblings together when feasible under provisions of federal court oversight of Michigan's child welfare system. The legislation would codify requirements in state law and is not expected to have a significant impact on local governments because federal law already requires reasonable efforts to place siblings together.

The Senate gave final, unanimous approval to one bill Tuesday after passing the other one last week.