<human>: My brother is 23 and is fighting for custody of his 3 y/o daughter, and possibly her 2 y/o sister (not his.) The mother is in and out of shelters, and the step-dad is in prison for 2-5 years. I do not know the specifics on his imprisonment at this time. Niece and sister are both in foster care at this time.
My brother gets SSI from Idaho so he is not required to pay child support for my niece. He does however pay for new clothes, shoes, toys, and supplies for her pre-school. He is looking for part time work so that he can be able to provide more for her. 
Here is where I need some advice. My brother had a family meeting yesterday with Health and Welfare. They basically told him he was going to be court ordered to sign off his rights as a father, so that the two girls can live in California with Step Dad's family. 
Can they legally make him do this? He has made it to every visitation for this little girl, calls her every night and even started to go to family counseling. From what I read in the paper he brought me H&W is still trying to give the kids back to the mom. Again she has no home and no job. I do not understand this. In the paper work they stated that they will call and interview local family for the girls to possibly stay with. I am on that list, but I cannot take them. I have a two bedroom apartment with my 9 y/o son, I work 50 hours a week, and I am still in college. I would love to help my brother, but I do not know how I could manage all of this, on top of what I have now. My mother is trying to do the same, but financially it is going to be hard. 
He is located in Boise, Ada County area of Idaho. The attorney that H&W appointed has not returned any phone calls from my brother or me in the past two weeks.

Could you distill the essence of the text into 1-3 sentences?
<bot>: Ada County court system is trying to force my brother to relinquish his parental rights. What can I do to help him.