HB 1938-S - DIGEST
(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 2ND SUB)

Declares an intent to promote a greater focus, in permanency planning and adoption proceedings, on the interests of siblings separated by adoptive placements and to encourage the inclusion in adoption agreements of provisions to support ongoing postadoption contact between siblings.

Directs the court, in reviewing and approving an agreement under RCW 26.33.295 for the adoption of a child from foster care, or whenever the permanency plan for a child is adoption, to encourage the prospective adoptive parents, birth parents, foster parents, kinship caregivers, and the department of social and health services or other supervising agency to seriously consider the long-term benefits to the child adoptee and his or her siblings of providing for and facilitating continuing postadoption contact between the siblings.