Sibling Strong is all about reuniting brothers and sisters who have been separated due to the Washington state foster care system. Through a programmed summer camp and events throughout the year, it is our goal to help reinforce sibling connection, encourage social development, restore hope, give a sense of normalcy and reduce feelings of isolation.
How we started
Founder/Executive Director, Deb Kennedy has always had a passion for children, specifically those in foster care. Being a foster and adoptive parent herself, she saw the need for a program that included structured, intentional time for siblings to come together to create positive childhood memories. Sibling Strong started as a week long summer camp back in 2009. Over the next 9 years, we watched the youth who attended our program age out of care, return as volunteers and share their stories of how the connections they made at camp had changed the trajectory of their lives. For this reason, Sibling Strong officially expanded into year-round programming in 2018 with local daytime events; including theme parks, pumpkin patches and holiday parties! In 2023 we introduced a leadership training program for youth (ages 16-20), who have attended a past camp, and have a passion to give other siblings the same opportunities they received.
To date, we have served more than 1500 brothers and sisters.
Who we are…
We are volunteers who believe in reuniting separated siblings. Reconnecting, establishing and fostering those relationships are vital in a child’s life. While we can’t change the circumstance, we can make a difference through our programs and events centered around bringing them together throughout the year. We take a team approach and believe that every camper and volunteer play an important role in making this happen!
For some who attend, our events are the only time they see their siblings during the year. For others, visits occur only occasionally or in a formal, institutional setting. Sibling Strong provides crucial bonding time together for separated brothers and sisters.
