Laura,
Contact your local Human Services Department and they should be able to point you in the right direction.
We had legal custody for our grandaughter for 8.5 years. This year, we made the decision to legally adopt so she would have any rights available to her. The adoption was granted in July and now we are moving forward. Although there were difficult times on occasion, there are many rewards. We ar now in our mid sixties and I don't regret any course of action we have taken. Wish you strength and some luck.