Here at Believe in Me, we see the same pattern again and again: siblings in foster care want to stay close, case plans allow it, but the last mile—rides, data plans, and a safe place to meet—keeps getting in the way. Our Love & Belonging pillar exists to close that gap with practical micro-grants that convert small, reliable dollars into miles, minutes, and meaningful rituals. Working alongside caregivers, schools, CASA/GAL programs, and youth-serving nonprofits, we fund what the system often doesn’t—so brothers and sisters can keep showing up for each other week after week. That’s the heartbeat of our commitment. Here’s an all too common story:
Maya (17) and Jayden (12) entered care two years apart and landed in different counties. They text constantly, but the last mile—actual time together—keeps breaking down. Case plans recognize the relationship; transportation, devices, and “where to meet” do not. A small, reliable micro-grant solves that last mile: it turns dollars into miles, minutes, and moments that research links to better well-being and permanency outcomes.
Sibling visitation in foster care is planned, regular contact—visits, calls/video, and simple shared rituals—between brothers and sisters who live in separate placements. It protects identity, belonging, and stability.
Why sibling contact is a must-fund priority
The evidence base is consistent: sibling connections are a protective factor. Agencies are expected to keep siblings together or, when that’s not possible, to make reasonable efforts to maintain frequent contact under federal law (Fostering Connections Act) and state policies like Washington’s DCYF Policy 4254. That policy requires individualized planning for “family time,” including sibling visits, with frequency and duration set in the child’s best interest. The need is clear; the system’s unfunded gaps are practical—rides, minutes, neutral spaces, and a little budget for shared rituals. American Bar Association
Dollars into time together: a micro-grant blueprint
We design micro-grants to cover the specific expenses that routinely block sibling time. To keep planning honest and comparable across communities, we use conservative public benchmarks:
Mileage proxy for caregiver/driver legs: IRS 2025 standard mileage rate = $0.70/mile (good for budgeting travel to neutral sites). IRS
Connectivity: Low-income families may qualify for the FCC’s Lifeline discount on phone/internet, bringing a basic plan into reach. fcc.gov
Washington youth transit advantage: Youth 18 and under ride free on most public transit statewide, and Amtrak Cascades youth rides are free for trips within Washington—powerful cost offsets for sibling visits.
Planning notes: In Washington, Youth Ride Free eliminates youth fares on transit and reduces many bus/ferry costs to near-zero; the remaining travel line items focus on an adult driver or the “first/last-mile” segments to transit hubs. For longer trips within Washington, Amtrak Cascades youth tickets are free, further stretching donor dollars. WSDOT
What success looks like
We use a small, transparent KPI set that respects privacy while proving impact:
Contacts per month by type (in-person, video, phone). Target ≥ 4 meaningful contacts.
% of planned visits completed. Target ≥ 80% after two months.
Sibling closeness pulse, 3–5 items quarterly (youth-reported).
Placement stability signals (e.g., moves over 12 months) tracked with agency partners.
School engagement trend (attendance or counselor check-ins) when schools co-host.
This is how we work across grants—clear goals, receipts, and impact reporting—so donors see exactly what their dollars do. Believe in Me
A Washington advantage donors can scale
In 2023, Washington recorded 14.8 million fare-free youth transit trips; with Washington State Ferries included, that’s 16.5 million. WSDOT also launched free youth fares on Amtrak Cascades in 2024 for trips that begin and end in Washington, unlocking longer sibling meet-ups without ticket costs for youth. This is rare nationally—and it means modest micro-grants can fund more contacts instead of fares. WSDOT
How caregivers and youth access it: Youth can ride for free by tapping a Youth ORCA card (or showing student ID on some systems). Ordering a free card is a simple online process; agencies like King County Metro and Kitsap Transit echo the same guidance. For intercity travel, families can book Amtrak Cascades youth tickets for $0 within Washington (adult tickets still apply and supervision policies still govern). ORCA Support+2Pierce Transit
From policy to practice, without stigma
Federal and state guidance is unambiguous about sibling contact—reasonable efforts are required to place siblings together or facilitate ongoing visits. Yet budgets rarely cover a prepaid phone, a neutral room at a school, or a cupcake on a shared birthday. That is precisely what a micro-grant is for: it dignifies family life, not just case compliance. American Bar Association
The sector has proven models we can learn from. Camp To Belong—a reunification program—has evaluated improvements in sibling resilience associated with camp-based reconnection, showing that well-structured, relationship-centered time together moves the needle on protective factors. Micro-grants bring that spirit to the everyday: weekly calls, a bus ride to a library, a shared study session before math tests. camptobelong.org
Monthly cost scenarios
Tier | What it enables each month | Example line items |
|---|---|---|
Starter ($65–$85) | Weekly video/voice + 1 local in-person visit | Phone/data (after Lifeline) ~$30; caregiver mileage (20-mile round trip × $0.70) $14; “togetherness kit” (cards, cupcake, art supplies) $10; device amortization $12.50 |
Standard (~$150) | Weekly video/voice + 2 intra-county visits | Phone/data $30; mileage (2 × 45-mile RT × $0.70) $63; rituals $20; meeting-space snacks $12; device amortization $12.50; contingency $12.50 |
Accelerator (~$300) | Weekly video/voice + 2 regional visits + quarterly intercity trip (averaged monthly) | Phone/data $30; mileage (2 × 60-mile RT × $0.70) $84; rituals $25; intercity travel reserve (trains/buses) $100; interpretation/fees $36; device amortization $12.50 |
A composite case: what $150 actually buys
For a sibling set like Maya and Jayden living 22 miles apart, Standard funding (~$150/month) typically covers: two Saturday visits at a public library (mileage ≈ 2 × 44 miles × $0.70 = $61.60), a basic phone/data plan for consistent mid-week calls ($30 after discounts where eligible), modest snacks and activity supplies ($20), and device amortization and contingency (~$38). If a longer quarterly visit is needed, we budget an intercity reserve in the Accelerator tier, leaning on Amtrak Cascades free youth fares to reduce hard costs for the younger sibling. This is pragmatic, repeatable, and auditable: dollars → contacts → documented outcomes. IRS
How we run this with partners (and how you can help)
Believe in Me funds programs under our Love & Belonging pillar that keep family ties strong. We co-design micro-grants with community-based organizations, CASA/GAL programs, and schools so the work fits local realities:
Schools provide neutral, familiar spaces and schedule alignment (after-school, early-release days).
CASA/GAL programs help keep sibling time visible in case planning and remove friction. National research underscores CASA/GAL’s role in promoting long-term well-being. nationalcasagal.org
Youth-serving nonprofits (e.g., Treehouse in Washington) coordinate with caregivers and schools to resolve logistical barriers that often derail visits. Treehouse
Our newsroom outlines how we safeguard donor trust: clear impact reporting, SMART goals, and receipts that match grant requests. If you’re a partner site (school, CBO, or court program), you can apply for a grant with ready-to-use templates and a shared KPI set. Believe in Me
Launch checklist: seven steps communities can copy this month
Map the need. With schools/CASA/GAL, identify sibling sets living apart; confirm constraints (distance, schedules, supervision).
Pick a tier. Start at Starter and revisit quarterly using the KPI set.
Set up payments. Use a prepaid card or pass-through to a vetted partner; restrict categories to travel/communications/rituals.
Leverage transit. Enroll youth in Youth ORCA and plan trips to public venues (libraries, campuses). For intercity, use Amtrak Cascades youth-free within WA; confirm unaccompanied-minor policies before booking. ORCA Support
Equip for virtual time. Provide a basic smartphone/tablet and schedule weekly video calls; screen for Lifeline eligibility to stretch dollars. fcc.gov
Co-create rituals. Put $10–$25/month toward low-cost, high-meaning activities (shared birthday, art night, homework session).
Track and share. Log contacts and costs; capture brief stories that center youth dignity. Report against the KPI set in quarterly dashboards for donors.
Why your gift matters now
Most sibling-connection barriers aren’t legal—they’re logistical and financial. The public system covers some things, but rarely the last mile that makes a plan real: the ride, the minutes, the cupcake. That’s where you come in. At $75, you fund a month of reliable calls plus one in-person visit. At $150, you enable two. At $300, you add regional travel and a quarterly “big day” together. It’s immediate, humane, and aligned with research and policy. Child Welfare Information Gateway Casey Family Programs
Make this month count for a sibling pair: Donate (primary) or Apply for a Grant if you’re a caregiver, school, or CBO ready to launch.
We’re in this for the long run: transparent budgets, simple KPIs, and partner reporting that prove your gift becomes real sibling time. When you support Believe in Me, you’re not funding overhead—you’re funding contact that strengthens identity, belonging, and stability for separated brothers and sisters. If you’re ready to help, you can donate to power the next month of connection, apply for a grant if you serve these families, or volunteer to host or drive visits. Together, we can make consistent sibling contact a given—not a luxury.
Publisher’s note on sources and safeguards
Research summaries from Child Welfare Information Gateway and Casey Family Programs underpin the protective role of sibling bonds and the policy expectations for contact. Child Welfare Information Gateway
Washington’s DCYF 4254 describes the state’s requirements for family time and sibling visits. DCYF
The IRS 2025 mileage rate (70¢/mile) provides a conservative, transparent travel proxy. IRS
Youth Ride Free and Amtrak Cascades youth-free fares within WA are documented by WSDOT and Amtrak. WSDOT
Lifeline reduces connectivity barriers for eligible families. fcc.gov
Bottom line: Sibling contact is stabilizing and achievable. With a micro-grant and Washington’s transit advantage, small dollars unlock consistent time together—and that’s a dividend every child deserves. WSDOT
Get to know more about Believe in Me and Help a Kid Today
Frequently Asked Questions
Any planned contact—visits, calls/video, shared rituals—between siblings in separate placements.
Frequency is individualized by the case plan/court order; policy encourages regular, meaningful contact.
Some costs are reimbursable, but many essentials (mileage to a neutral site, devices, rituals) aren’t covered. Micro‑grants fill that gap.
Yes—many states explicitly encourage supplemental video/phone contact when appropriate.
It eliminates youth fares statewide, lowering visit costs and enabling more frequent contact.
Visits/calls per month, completion rate, sibling closeness mini‑scale, placement stability, school engagement.
Yes—schools can offer safe, staffed, accessible spaces aligned to bell schedules.
Visits follow case plan and policy; community hosts follow supervision/background protocols.
With pre‑vetted partners, disbursements can begin in weeks; use our blueprint and Apply for a Grant.
See our newsroom post on impact reporting.
