Adopting Siblings From Indiana Foster Care — What You Need to Know

By Grant Kirsh

When a child enters Indiana’s foster care system, they often come with brothers and sisters. And one of the most important things Indiana law and the Department of Child Services try to do is keep those siblings together — including when it comes to adoption.

If you are considering adopting from Indiana foster care, being open to sibling groups is one of the most impactful decisions you can make. It is also a decision that comes with real questions: What does the process look like? How do you parent multiple children who have come from hard backgrounds? What does Indiana law say about keeping siblings together?

At Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., we have helped families complete nearly 3,000 foster care adoptions in Indiana. We are a family-run law firm based right here in Indiana, and sibling adoptions are something we handle regularly — in Marion County, Lake County, Allen County, Hamilton County, Tippecanoe County, St. Joseph County, Hendricks County, Elkhart County, Johnson County, Delaware County, Vanderburgh County, Porter County, Madison County, Vigo County, Monroe County, and courts throughout the state.

Here is what you need to know.

Indiana Law Favors Keeping Siblings Together

Indiana law recognizes the importance of sibling relationships and includes a preference for placing siblings together — both in foster care and in adoption. When DCS is making placement decisions, keeping brothers and sisters in the same home is a priority whenever it is possible and in the best interests of the children.

This means that if you are fostering one child and that child has siblings in the system, DCS may ask whether you are able to take the siblings as well. It also means that families who are specifically open to sibling groups are highly valued — and often move through the placement process more quickly because the need is significant and the children are waiting.

What Does Adopting a Sibling Group Look Like?

The process for adopting siblings from Indiana foster care follows the same general path as any foster care adoption. The children are placed in your home as foster children, parental rights are terminated through the court process, and the adoption is finalized in court. What is different with sibling groups is the complexity — and the reward.

Parenting multiple children with a shared history. Siblings who come from the same home have often experienced the same difficult background together. That shared experience can be a source of strength and comfort for them — and it also means the family dynamics you are navigating may be more layered than with a single child. That is not a reason to hesitate. It is a reason to make sure you have good

Coordinating multiple cases. Each child in a sibling group has their own legal case through DCS. Parental rights must be addressed for each child individually. An experienced adoption attorney who knows how to manage multiple related cases simultaneously — across courts in Hamilton, Marion, Lake, Allen, or any other Indiana county — is essential to keeping things organized and moving forward.support in place.

The bond between siblings. For children who have lost so much, their relationship with each other may be the most stable thing in their lives. Keeping that bond intact — and being the family that honors it — is something these children will carry with them forever.

What If the Siblings Are Split Between Different Placements?

Sometimes siblings in the foster care system end up in separate foster homes, either because no single family was available to take all of them or because of individual needs of those child. This can happen even when DCS has a preference for keeping them together.

If you are fostering one child and want to pursue placement of their siblings as well, raise this directly with your DCS case manager as soon as possible. It is also worth having an attorney who can advocate effectively on behalf of you and the children — particularly in counties like St. Joseph, Tippecanoe, Elkhart, Vanderburgh, and Vigo where caseloads can be significant.

Are There Financial Supports for Families Who Adopt Sibling Groups?

Yes. Indiana offers adoption assistance — sometimes called adoption subsidy — for children adopted from foster care who meet certain eligibility criteria. This assistance helps cover ongoing costs related to the child’s care and is negotiated before the adoption is finalized.

Families adopting sibling groups may be eligible for assistance for each child individually. An experienced adoption attorney can help you understand what your family may qualify for and make sure those agreements are fully in place before finalization day.

Why Families Choose to Adopt Sibling Groups

We have seen many families come into this process not planning to adopt siblings — and leave having done exactly that. Once you meet a child and learn that separating them from their brother or sister would mean breaking the only stable bond they have left, something changes.

It is not always the easier path. But families who have walked it consistently tell us it is one of the most meaningful things they have ever done. We believe them.

We Are Here to Help

At Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., we bring nearly 40 years of foster care adoption experience to every family we work with. We know Indiana DCS. We know Indiana courts — from Monroe and Madison Counties to Porter and Delaware Counties and everywhere in between. And we know how to help families navigate even the most complex sibling adoption cases from start to finish.

If you are thinking about adopting siblings from Indiana foster care — or if you are already fostering and wondering what comes next — we would be glad to talk.

Call us at 317-575-5555. Visit us at DCSAdoptions.com.

About the Author
Grant Kirsh is a second-generation adoption attorney and owner of Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., a family law firm in Indianapolis, Indiana that has been serving Indiana families since 1981. Grant graduated from Indiana University McKinney School of Law in 2013 and has personally handled nearly 3,000 foster care adoptions and his law firm has handled over 5,000 private newborn adoptions. He practices all forms of domestic adoption, with a deep personal commitment to expectant mothers considering adoption in Indiana and Indiana’s foster care system and the families and children it serves.