Learning point #1:
the agency was put in a position to assign multiple workers to manage the case due to state and federal requirements relating to placement, permanency, and adoption. These requirements place agencies in a position to need specialized workers to fulfill the multiple requirements of these statutes. Furthermore, the number of federal and state documentation requirements within SSIS related to permanency/adoption cases such as this, place staff in a position to balance multiple competing tasks and documentation requirements further impacting the licensing agency not being notified by the placing agency when the sibling child was placed. 

Further influencing the licensing agency not being notified by the placing agency when the sibling child was placed was the relationship between the licensing worker and the foster care parents (relatives), as the foster care parents would likely have informed the licensing worker that the sibling child had been placed, which influenced the perception that notification was given.

Learning point #2:
The agency's practice to seek outside consultation when siblings are separated coupled with concerns about disrupting the sibling's attachments, further supported the agency's decision for outside consultation. Influencing the agency's practice to seek outside consultation was the requirement to look at the best interests of both children and to make an individual determination regarding each child.