[joskimo]

I think you should talk to your state office of family services or whatever it is in your state. When we took our nephews in, even before it was a legal relationship, we received a subsidy. However, if we adopted them we would have lost our subsidy. That might be different w/ your brother because of all the issues. Also, it may not be neccisary for your parents to relinquish rights for you to be eligible for subsidy. In fact, that might make things worse for your brother to have to deal w/ more abandonment. I know for my nephews they endured repeated abandonment by their mother, still do.

Good luck. Oh and with a family placement, I doubt age will be an issue if you have resources.