The "Fostering Sibling Success Act" seeks to enhance the rights of sibling youths in the foster care system by amending various sections of the Revised Code. It introduces new sections 2151.4115 through 2151.4120 and 2151.317, while repealing sections 2151.4115 through 2151.4121. The bill emphasizes the importance of maintaining sibling relationships during foster care placements, ensuring that siblings are placed together when in their best interest, and allowing adult siblings to be considered as resource caregivers or adoptive parents. Additionally, it mandates public children services agencies to make reasonable efforts to keep siblings connected and to prepare timely case plans that prioritize the child's health and safety.

The legislation also includes amendments to existing laws regarding case plans for children in temporary custody, establishing clearer procedures for filing changes with the court and conducting regular review hearings. It requires agencies to conduct diligent searches for adult relatives or significant non-relatives upon a child's removal from home and mandates written notifications to foster and kinship caregivers about relevant hearings. Notably, the bill removes previous preferences for adult relatives in adoption placements, focusing instead on the best interests of the child. Overall, the act aims to strengthen sibling connections and improve the foster care system's responsiveness to children's needs.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 2151.011, 2151.411, 2151.412, 2151.416, 2151.417, 2151.4122, 2151.424, 5103.161, 2151.4115, 2151.4116, 2151.4117, 2151.4118, 2151.4119, 2151.4120, 2151.4121