What is with social services?

[HEyHEY]

My co-worker's nephew has basically had a rough life. Recently the kid was kicked out of his grandparents house. His aunt (my co-worker) doesn't want to see him end up in a processing centre for god knows how long while they look for a home for him. So she has offered to take him in permanently. So, for starters there is a 60-day trial period in which social services evaluates the arrangement.
Now, my co-worker lives in a smaller house with three kids, so he'd have to share a room with her other kid.
Social services is telling her she has to move to a larger house in order to have the kid so he can have his own room. Now here's what gets me..... why the hell should she move to a larger house - thereby stretching her budget more, when they can say "no" and take the kid back after 60 days?
This would be a good home for this kid, his aunt doesn't drink much, sleep around, do drugs, swear, or anything and they're basically making it impossible for her.
It's like they'd rather see the kid end up in a processing centre.
Yeah, way to go

[nini]

1. why does he need his own room?

we shared rooms growing up and it didn't hurt us

:shrug:

[HEyHEY]

2. I can see their point about that though

He's a 15 year old boy
Her kids are a nine year old boy, a 14 and 16 year-old girls

BUt still, she shouldn't have to move for a trial period

[Sticky]

3. The "processing centre" may be a good idea

It gives the child a chance to be viewed and assessed by professionals and at the same time gives the kid an opportunity to think about his behaviour in an environment that is not emotionally charged.

Your aunt could gain good info on the child and have a support system to fall back on if things get rough after the child moves in.

She sounds like a great person!

[HEyHEY]

5. Well, the kid isn't really a BAD kid

He's fairly normal, he is out now because his grandparents (Jehovahs witnesses) and him couldn't get along.
His aunt just doesn't want to see him in a place like that...she was in one when she was 13 for a year and says she couldn't bear to do it to him.

[strategery blunder]

4. Would getting a hide-a-bed suffice?

Granted, it wouldn't be the best situation, but would getting a couch with a fold-up bed shut up social services?

If I was that kid, I would sure as hell prefer sleeping on a hide-a-bed to the "processing centre." There was lots of stuff going on at home when I was that age, but I never reported it because the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services had such a horrible reputation--I thought being a foster kid was a fate worse than death.

[HEyHEY]

6. BC isn't great either

a few years ago they went on a rampage and took something like 180 kids away from parents in this small town - lawsuits galore