[Cipher Girl]

We have a possible foster/adoption situation come up. We are in the process of getting certified for foster care. A friend found out that we are getting certified and are interested in long term foster care or adoption. He mentioned that his sister-in-law basically abandoned her baby and they took the child in last year. Unfortunately due to financial difficulties, the wife's illness, and children of thier own, they were unable to keep the child. They put her into foster care. The child is about 2 years old.

The mother will get out of jail in November, and has already said that she "wants to leave town with her new man". It looks doubful that she will have any interest in the child and that long term care or adoption will be needed.

If the relatives want us to take the child in once we get licensed, what are our chances for becoming the child's foster parents? This is in Kern county. Does the county take what the relatives desire? We would prefer foster/adopt as the costs are much lower than adoption.

But until we are certified, we can't proceed any further. Any suggestions how this can be handled? What can our friends (the relatives) do to help us in the situation?