I can't speak for other areas, but in the area but the two areas I lived in the screen process was rigorous. There was one family that did manage to slip through the cracks and were in it for the "Farm help".
The kids slept in the basement on mattresses.
That was how my wife and I got involved in Foster care. One of the kids was a student of mine and let slip about the living arrangement. My neighbor was an adoption case worker. Same agency different department.
He spoke to the supervisor and the "fit hit the shan"
Andy asked my wife and I to consider getting our certification and the rest was history.
Well good on you...It is so sad that abused kids don’t know any better but to love their parents regardless of the abuse...They just don’t understand...Truly heartbreaking...