Opinion ID: 2653451
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: the efforts made by the State agency to

Text: discuss with the child’s parent or parents the kinship guardianship assistance arrangement, or the reasons why the efforts were not made. 30  FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAI #I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER  Thus, like Hawaii’s CPA, Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, along with its implementing regulations, encourages relative placements but considers the child’s safety to be an overriding concern. Lastly, even Title IV-E recognizes the authority of State courts over protected children under their jurisdiction. 42 U.S.C. § 678 states, “Nothing in this part [42 USCS §§ 670 et seq.] shall be construed as precluding State courts from exercising their discretion to protect the health and safety of children in individual cases. . . .” In sum, there is no federal relative placement preference that DHS was compelled to carry out under Congress’s spending power.