HELP!!!!!!!!!Need advice RE: Child abuse in AZ

[Savmom]

OK. I am quite upset to the point of being ill, so if this seems confusing I apologize. I will try to give a little background about this situation before posting my question. We occasionally foster a 14 yo boy who is a very well-mannered polite young man. His mother left with a "friend" leaving him, his sister (12) and half-brother (10 months) with the abusive step-dad and step-dad's mom. CPS was called by SD because "he wanted to have wife arrested for abandonment and have the kids removed from the home." CPS left the kids there- in a VERY hostile situation in which step-gma and step-dad beat the kids regularly (including infant!). Last week s-gma pushed 14yo down the stairs then slapped him (in front of witnesses and it was unprovoked). 14yo and myself calls CPS caseworker who comes to home and in front of said witnesses says, "they can hit you as much as they like for any reason as long as they do not cause permanent PHYSICAL damage." (emphasis mine) That was actually what she said. I wanted to beat her for saying that .

My question is this: are there any laws protecting kids in this situation (we live in AZ)? I am at a loss how to help these kids and the older kids are beaten with belts, sticks, anything handy, while the baby is slapped and shaken for crying if he is hungry, wet, etc...If anyone has ANY ideas I would appreciate it as I am desperate and feel helpless.

Please pray for these sweet, defenseless children who are totally innocent and do not deserve to be abused for any reason. They tell the kids "If you don't shut up I'll drown you like a dog in the river" and "If I had my way you would be gone forever" and "I hate you and wish you were dead" while being beaten with a huge leather switch.

Why are people allowed to do this while if I were to kick my dog I would go to jail??

Not that I would ever kick my dog.....