I finally took it upon myself to call social services and an adoption agency and so far good news. When I called social services today I told them our senerio, that my husband and I are going to be adopting my cousins baby and that she is in the welfare system, what should we do. He was very helpful (I think I lucked out) and told me that we didn't even have to go through the social system to adopt this baby, we do not have to become fosters parents, which a friend of ours who is a socialworker had said she thought we didn't but wanted to be sure. He told me that we are family enough for it to be consentual and that we just needed to contact a lawyer and go that route. The only way he said that we would have to go through the system is if the baby tested postive at the hospital and even then he said they always look at family first and he was positive we would still be able to adopt the baby, but only then have to go through the state system. Our conslutation is next monday 21st for the adoption lawyers, who we were refered to, so any further questions will be answered then but it feels good to finally be pointed in a direction in which to take. Why I waited so long to call I will never know, but I have never had a reason to call an lawyer this is all so new to me. It has had me a bit frustrated and a bit overwhelmed I must say, sure you can all understand that feeling.
Thank you again for all you advice and patience april...........