Claire's heart was breaking over Ethan's situation. She kept up a strong front while he was there because she didn't want him to be more upset than he already was.
She had explained his concerns to Marilyn over the phone. The social worker said she would talk to the foster parents but the truth of the matter was that they were busy, overworked people with too many kids in the house because they were in demand with their higher level of training.
They were afraid to put Ethan in a regular care home because of his combat training and potential ability to overpower his foster parents. The truth of the matter was that the system was fit to burst and there weren't enough people available to properly give him the care he needed.