” The way I understand they only put them into foster care if there is not a grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc.,, willing to take them then they can send them to an OOS relative.”
I just re-read my post to you and I want to clarify that I am not trying to be flip or cavalier in my answer to you. What you might detect is exasperation with an overburdened, ineffectual system.
What you wrote is what most people - logically, lovingly believe ought to be able to occur. I agree with that perspective.
My tone - of frustrated anger at the reality of the situations is from working within the courts there, working with both caring and indifferent workers, therapists and judges and knowing how harsh and overworked the entire system is and has been for many, many years. Sadly what you wrote just is too naive and too sweet to occur even with the utmost effort.
The system has developed very protective,rigid measures to justify it’s actions or inactions/inflexibility as a way of attempting to not break down completely.
For kids that is a sucky system.....