42 U.S.C. § 671(a)(19) Placement of Children With Relatives

https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/placement.pdf

New Hampshire Does NOT Give Preference to Relatives, so why do they STILL receive Federal Title IV Funding?
In order for States to receive Federal payments for foster care and adoption assistance, Federal law under title IV-E of the Social Security Act requires that they “consider giving preference to an adult relative over a nonrelated caregiver when determining placement for a child, provided that the relative caregiver meets all relevant State child protection standards.”1 Title IV-E further requires States to exercise due diligence to identify and provide notice to all grandparents and other adult relatives of the child (including any other adult relatives suggested by the parents) regarding (1) the fact that the child has been or is being removed from the custody of his or her parents, (2) the options the relative has to participate in the care and placement of the child, and (3) the requirements to become a foster parent to the child.2
Giving Preference to Relatives for Out-of-Home Placements
Each State defines “relative” differently, including relatives by blood, marriage, or adoption ranging from the first to the fifth degree. Generally, preference is given to the child’s grandparents, followed by aunts, uncles, adult siblings, and cousins. For Indian children, nine States allow members of the child’s Tribe to be considered “extended family members” for placement purposes.3 Approximately 45 States and Puerto Rico give preference or priority to relative placements in their statutes.4 Massachusetts, Ohio, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia require childplacing agencies to give preference to placements with relatives in regulation. In 17 States and Guam, State agencies are required to make reasonable efforts to identify and locate a child’s relative when out-of-home placement is needed.5 New Hampshire, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands use statutory language such as “may consider” placement with relatives. West Virginia and the Northern Mariana Islands do not address the issue of the placement of children for foster care with relatives in their statutes. In all cases, before a child can be placed in the home of a relative, the child-placing agency must do an assessment to determine that the relative is “fit and willing” to provide a suitable placement for the child, able to ensure the child’s safety, and able to meet the child’s needs. Approximately 28 States and the District of Columbia require relatives to undergo a criminal background check that may include all adult members of the household.6