I live in Arkanas and my Daughter's husband has walked out on her twice. She was left homeless. I let her and her two boy's, ages 4 and 1 live with us. They were to pay 75.00 a week for rent and use their food stamp card for food. They worked things out and the husband moved in with us also. After a week the fighting started again and the hitting each other started. I tried to stop a fight one night and my daughter hit me. I had the police come and get her. The 4 yr old stayed with us,because his mother would not get up and take him to school,since the school is across the street from us, I did and he went home after school on Friday and we picked him up on Sunday. Four days before Christmas her husband walked out again, we got the 1 year old then. Their father has never stopped by to see them or call, their mother has stopped by 5 times and stays for about 30 minutes, she has no where to live no job, (neither one have a job and won't get one)we cannot get any of the boys items, clothes,shoes, coats. My Husband and I want to get full custody of both children, how long to they have to live with us before we can file for custody, and we have no way to get a hold of either one, the mother just stops by when she can get a ride.

You need to apply for temporary guardianship IMMEDIATELY. Without that, you cannot legally approve medical treatment for the children.

Doing so will probably kick off a family services dept investigation and you can talk to your case worker about making the temporary guardianship permanent custody.