What is Sibling Preservation?
Sibling Preservation is about providing meaningful opportunities for children in foster care to heal, grow, and maintain their sibling bonds during this difficult chapter in their lives.
It is advocacy for Sibling Rights including sibling placements and visitation.
While children living in foster care frequently get separated from their siblings, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children works to preserve the sibling bond through regularly scheduled fun and educational events such as Camp To Belong, National Sibling Day and Gift of Giving. Through engaging programming and exciting activities, youth are given the opportunity to make impactful memories sharing special moments with their brothers and sisters.
Sibling Preservation is truly a community program supported by local businesses, volunteer groups, and caring individuals.
Camp To Belong (National)
Camp To Belong is one of the only programs in the United States designed specifically to address the relational needs of youth who are separated by foster care. Through our signature event programming, Camp To Belong strengthens sibling relationships by providing youth with a place to connect, create memories, and normalize the experiences of placement in foster care.
Signature events include celebrating important life events that siblings missed being together and creating keepsakes for each other to remember their time together at camp. Our activities are organized to inspire connection and belonging, empower youth, and provide positive role models. We give our campers the opportunity to spend time with others who are living in their shoes, make friends, and bond with their siblings.
In addition to CTB’s signature events, our campers also participate in traditional camp activities, such as boating, horseback riding, swimming, and challenge courses. Visit the Camp To Belong website.
For more information, please contact:
Kevin Nelson
Program Manager
knelson@stjudesranch.org
702.436.1624 x220
Programs offered by Child Focus
Camp To Belong:
The Sibling Preservation program hosts Camp To Belong Nevada, a week-long summer camp reuniting siblings for personal & emotional growth, confidence building activities and family bonding time. Founded in Las Vegas in 1995, Camp to Belong has grown to be a movement throughout the U.S. with member and affiliate camps born from this trailblazing program. camptobelong.org
Share & Discovery Sibling Events:
Each month youth in care can count on the Sibling Preservation program to offer unique outings offering siblings the opportunity to share memorable experiences. From hiking Mt. Charleston to zipping down waterslides youth in the sibling preservation are provided with consistent visitation opportunities catering to a wide scope of varied interests.
National Sibling Day Festival:
National Sibling Day celebrates the unique bond between brothers and sisters. Partnering with our community, this event offers an afternoon of entertainment, carnival games and prizes while raising awareness of siblings separated in care and how our community can support them.
Gift of Giving:
Each year Sibling Preservation mounts a massive effort to provide a unique holiday experience for siblings living apart from one another. Donations collected are shared in a “Gift Shop” where our youth choose a gift for their brother or sister, lovingly wrap each item and are encouraged to add a meaningful note. These gifts take on a special significance and our youth appreciate the opportunity to share the ‘Gift of Giving’. Games, crafts and a kid-friendly buffet round out an exciting day our siblings look forward to each year.
Academic Success:
An overwhelming number of children in foster care are at risk academically. Child Focus uses an individualized approach to improve the overall academic performance of separated siblings beginning in middle school. Youth receive mentoring as it relates to getting ready to graduate from college, reading and writing.
Youth Leadership:
Many children living in foster care have difficulty obtaining basic independent living skills. Child Focus administers a specialized curriculum of self sufficiency training. Topics range from financial management, employment, resume writing and interview skills, college and career life, and self empowerment seminars.