Once again, this writing thing is making me curious (it’s not like accuracy matters on one throw-away sentence in a novel, but it does in my mind). Apologies in advance for the morbidity of the question.
I know this’ll vary from state to state, but I’m just seeking a general sort of idea. Say there’s a kid in their early teens - 12, 13, 14. There’s some sort of accident, or crime, or whatever: both their parents are deceased. If their extended family is non-existant or estranged (e.g., there’s a grandmother she’s never met or something), I’m assuming that the state would take custody of the kid.
Would they randomly be placed in a foster home, the way (I believe) they do with young kids? More important to my plot, is it at all feasible to imagine that, if there were a competant, responsible, non-convict adult who was willing to take the kid in, it would be allowed? Would that lead to formal adoption, or just a couple years of ‘foster parenting’? I know next to nothing about how things like that work, so, I’m at a loss.
wanders away, muttering about curiosity and the cat and whatnot
If there is a relative willing and able to take the kid and passing muster on a usually rather skimpy fitness review, the kid will be placed with that relative. Otherwise fosterage, group homes (which are to orphanages as Social Service agencies are to Welfare departments), etc.
If the parents left instructions as to who should have custody in the event of their death while the kid’s still a minor, the courts will nearly always honor those instructions.
A very few teens do get adopted and have loving families, by the normal process. A certain amount more are adopted by their foster families, having bonded with them and they being able to adopt.
Every state has its own rules about child welfare, so one answer doesn’t necessarily fit all.
In my state a child under the age of 16 would go into the foster care system, if no placement with a relative is possible. For an adolescent this could mean placement with a foster family or a group home.
From 16-18 the child would go into a “transitional living” program. This could again include foster or group care, or the child could live as an emancipated minor with state assistance (e.g., Medicaid).
However, the family court has some latitude and it’s possible a family friend could be made a guardian.