Bill > S4285

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the "New Jersey Siblings' Bill of Rights." Based on a document drafted by the Department of Children and Families' Youth Council, comprising of 24 young New Jerseyans with lived experience in the child welfare system, this bill specifically establishes the following rights for siblings who have been placed in a resource family or a congregate care settings: to be placed with siblings when possible and in the best interests of all siblings placed together, including placement together in congregate care settings when possible; to be placed in the closest proximity possible to other siblings who are not in out-of-home placement or if placement together is not possible, when it is in the best interests of the child; to be allowed to participate in the permanency planning decisions of their siblings, as age and developmentally appropriate, and to have their recommendations and wishes in this regard documented in the case record, in the words written, or otherwise expressed by the sibling when possible; to know or be made aware of expectations for continued contact with their siblings after an adoption or transfer of permanent physical and legal custody to a relative; to be promptly informed about changes in sibling placements or circumstances; to be permitted in-person contact with siblings, if in the best interest of both siblings, and to be provided necessary transportation as reasonable, and to have access to a phone or computer that allows for virtual visits in between or when face-to-face visits are not feasible; to be permitted in-person contact with siblings, if in the best interest of both siblings, and to be provided necessary transportation as reasonable, and to have access to a phone or computer that allows for virtual visits in between or when face-to-face visits are not feasible; to not have sibling visits, including phone calls and virtual visits, be denied as a result of behavioral consequences when residing in a resource family home or congregate care setting; and to be provided updated contact information for all siblings at least annually, including a current telephone number, address, and email address, unless not in the best interests of one or more siblings.

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Joe Vitale (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 12/16/2021)