wanting to save a chilld from being lost in the foster care system

Where do I begin. A realtive of my has 2 children. One lives with my aunt and the other science birth has been living with a women the court has deemed unfit to raise her. I found out a week ago that the biological mother who has now had another child has been taken to jail do to child abuse to her new born. My aunt refuses to let the other child come live with her. Do to the child abuse brought against the mother both kids have been put in to foster care. My husband and I contacted my aunt and told her that we would take brittney and make her a part of our family. My cousin called back and said that he would be so greatful if we could raise her, see he has also been deemed unfit by the court. I contacted the social service and told them we would take her. Social services has already started running the back ground checks on us both per my cousin's request. Today was the hearing and wow! My cousin turned a complet one-sixty.
When the social worker began to tell the judge that a famliy member has offered to raise the child as there own my cousin stood up and told the court no! I would now rather have her adopted out! My question is do we still even have a chance to make her a part of our family? what should I do now. Please help if you can. Where do I turn.

Originally posted by brager
Where do I begin. A realtive of my has 2 children. One lives with my aunt and the other science birth has been living with a women the court has deemed unfit to raise her. I found out a week ago that the biological mother who has now had another child has been taken to jail do to child abuse to her new born. My aunt refuses to let the other child come live with her. Do to the child abuse brought against the mother both kids have been put in to foster care. My husband and I contacted my aunt and told her that we would take brittney and make her a part of our family. My cousin called back and said that he would be so greatful if we could raise her, see he has also been deemed unfit by the court. I contacted the social service and told them we would take her. Social services has already started running the back ground checks on us both per my cousin's request. Today was the hearing and wow! My cousin turned a complet one-sixty.
When the social worker began to tell the judge that a famliy member has offered to raise the child as there own my cousin stood up and told the court no! I would now rather have her adopted out! My question is do we still even have a chance to make her a part of our family? what should I do now. Please help if you can. Where do I turn.

Why does the cousin have any say in the adoption of a child that is not with her? Does she have temporay custody or does the state?
Do you have an attorney? Does the case worker favor you both adopting Brittany? Have the rights of the unfit mother and father been terminated ? The abuse charges are physical, sexual or mental?
For reference material go to search and get the Services for Children of your state and find out what there requirements are for adoption and placement. It would also help to study the State Statutues of your state in the "Adoption" and "child rights" and the "Termination of Parental rights" section and read what they consider qualifications and standards for placement and what hoops you need to go through to get this all sealed and over.
if you can answer those questions abover it will help me to understand some holes.
There is always a chance. It depends on how hard you want to fight for the baby. The battle is always up hill and the state is a pain in the behind, but the child is worth every hill and mountiain they throw at you.
Await your response soon.