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HB 902

Enact the Fostering Sibling Success Act

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Sean Brennan and 9 co-sponsors

The bill strengthens and standardizes rights to keep siblings together or near each other in foster care, with required planning, notice, and kinship considerations.

Referred to committee
#childwelfare #fostercare #juvenileandfamilylaw
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Bill Summary · HB 902

Summary of HB 902 (Fostering Sibling Success Act) – Ohio, 136th General Assembly

Purpose and intent
- The bill proposes the "Fostering Sibling Success Act," aimed at strengthening and clarifying the rights and workflows related to siblings in foster care.
- It emphasizes preserving sibling connections, prioritizing kinship considerations, and standardizing processes for sibling placement, notification, and permanency planning.

Key provisions and changes
- Rights of sibling youths in foster care (new section 2151.317):
- Sibling youths have specified rights to be placed with or near each other when in the best interests and feasible for the agency.
- Rights include: joint or near placements, temporary respite together, involvement of trained caseworkers, timely notification of changes, inclusion in permanency discussions, ongoing meaningful contact, and annual sharing of sibling contact information and photos.
- Adult siblings may serve as resource caregivers, adoptive parents, or relatives for their siblings, if chosen.
- Sibling rights supersede resource caregiver rights when in conflict, but do not create civil action grounds against the department or agencies.
- Notification and documentation duties by the department to ensure youth awareness of sibling rights.

  • Sibling placement and case planning (sections 2151.411, 2151.412, 2151.424):

    • Agencies are encouraged to place siblings together when in their best interests and to maintain frequent connections if joint placement isn’t possible.
    • Agencies must include sibling focus in family time plans and ensure timely family time planning, with processes to deny or approve sibling contact based on best interests and safety considerations.
    • Rules and rulemaking duties designated to the Director of Children and Youth for implementing sibling-related provisions.

  • Case planning and court oversight (section 2151.4120 and related subsections):

    • Mandates for case plans in various scenarios (temporary custody, protective supervision, planned permanent living arrangements, permanent custody).
    • Specifies processes for developing, journalizing, and modifying case plans, including timelines, court approvals, and notices.
    • Introduces semiannual administrative reviews (2151.416) with a panel that includes a non-casework member, and requires written summaries, joint meetings with parties, and consideration of kinship search progress.

  • Kinship and diligent search (2151.4115 – 2151.4119; 2151.4120; 5103.161; 2151.424):

    • Agencies must diligently search for adult relatives or adult nonrelatives with a significant relationship to the child to assume custody or provide a home.
    • The diligent search includes interviews, database checks, and potential other reasonable methods, with ongoing requirements through the case.
    • Notices to identified relatives/nonrelatives about custody opportunities and processes to pursue adoption or Kinship placement; six-month failure to engage can excuse consideration of certain relatives.
    • Provisions for foster caregiver and relative rights to participate in hearings and updates.

  • Definitions and codification (Sec. 2151.011 and 5103.161):

    • Clarifies terminology around juvenile courts, guardians, custody, placement, and permanency options to support implementation.

Procedural and timeline aspects
- The bill adds specific timelines for case plans, administrative reviews (semiannual), and reporting to courts.
- It requires timely notices and opportunities to participate in hearings for foster caregivers, kinship caregivers, and relatives.
- It mandates training and rulemaking to implement sibling-focused rights and procedures.

Affected parties
- Fostering youths (siblings in foster care), their siblings, foster caregivers, kinship caregivers, adoptive parents, relatives, caseworkers, guardians ad litem, and public/private child-placing agencies.
- State agencies (Department of Children and Youth, courts) responsible for implementing case plans, reviews, and permanency planning with enhanced sibling considerations.

Notes
- Repeals and reenacts related existing code sections to integrate the new framework.
- The act is named and positioned to center sibling relationships in foster care planning and execution.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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