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(NewsNation) — A clinical psychologist believes it's essential for the children rescued from the Ohio "House of Horrors" to receive family counseling together and to remain in contact, even if they join separate foster families.

"No matter what the cost is to social systems, no matter the work that needs to be done … these children need to stay in contact," Dr. Jeff Gardere told NewsNation Friday. "[They] only have themselves; that's all they know."

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The Siders, a mom, dad, grandmother and grandfather, were arrested June 30 after authorities said they found 16 kids, ages 18 months to 18 years, living in unsafe, unsanitary conditions inside the family's Hamden, Ohio, home.

The children are now in state custody, but advocates say the case's complexity could make it hard to place them together in foster care.

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Even if they cannot be together, Gardere said, "it's important that the foster care families are meeting on a weekly basis and the children are able to see one another as often as they can."

The defendants, Gary Siders Sr., 73, Christina Siders, 67, Gary Siders Jr., 36 and Elizabeth Siders, 33, face 16 felony counts of child endangerment and have pleaded not guilty. All four requested a competency evaluation to see if they're mentally fit to stand trial.

This combination of undated booking photos provided by Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, shows, clockwise starting at top left, Gary Siders Sr., Christine Siders, Elizabeth Siders and Gary Siders Jr. (Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail via AP)

NewsNation's Josie Fischels and Ashley N. Soriano contributed to this report.

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