1 Statement of Purpose. The purpose of this act is to:

I. Support the ability of children in foster care to maintain their cultural identity.

II. Educate and train foster families in cultural sensitivity and practices.

III. Ensure the availability of cultural advocates for ongoing support of foster children.

IV. Facilitate community engagement in preserving cultural practices.

2 Child Day Care Licensing; Rulemaking; Consideration of the Child's Cultural Background. Amend RSA 170-E:11, I(j) to read as follows:

(j) Protection and fostering of the particular religious faith of the children served, where applicable.

3 Residential Care and Child-Placing Agency Licensing; Rulemaking; Consideration of the Child's Cultural Background. Amend RSA 170-E:34, I(a)(10) to read as follows:

(10) Protection and fostering of the particular religious faith of the children served, where applicable.

4 New Paragraph: Foster Parents; Required Cultural Training. Amend RSA 170-E:52 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:

VII. The department of health and human services shall require foster parents to certify that they have completed a program of instruction that covers:

(a) Cultural awareness and sensitivity.

(b) The importance to the child of maintaining cultural practices such as language,

food, and celebrations.

(c) Strategies for integrating cultural elements into the child's daily life.

(d) Resources available in the community for engagement with the child's cultural heritage.

5 New Sections; Foster Care; Definitions; Cultural Advocates; Cultural Resources and Community Engagement. Amend RSA 170-E by inserting after section 52 the following new sections:

170-E:52-a Definitions. In this subdivision:

I. "Cultural background" means the cultural heritage and religious traditions of a child's birth parents and other birth relatives.

II. "Cultural heritage" means the practices, rituals, language, arts, and social norms that characterize a specific group and contribute to their unique identity.

III. "Cultural foster care" means a specialized foster care system that seeks to place children with families who share or respect their cultural background.

IV. "Cultural advocate" means a trained professional who supports a child's cultural background and helps both the child and the foster family to integrate the child's cultural background into the foster care.

170-E:52-b Cultural Advocates for Children Placed in Foster Care.

I. Every child placed in cultural foster care shall be assigned a cultural advocate within 30 days after placement.

II. The cultural advocate shall be responsible for:

(a) Assessing the child's cultural needs and preferences.

(b) Assisting foster families in understanding and integrating the child's cultural background into the foster care.

(c) Facilitating connections with cultural community resources such as cultural

centers, religious organizations, and community groups.

(d) Monitoring the child's adjustment to foster care in relation to their cultural identity.

170-E:52-c Cultural Resources and Community Engagement.

I. The general court finds that sensitivity and support for a foster child's cultural heritage and background plays an integral, indispensable, and vital role in the daily lives of foster children in the state of New Hampshire. The general court further finds that it is in the best interest of the department of health and human services to collaborate and partner with organizations and individuals who can provide foster children and their foster parents with meaningful access, engagement and exposure to culturally appropriate events and experiences.

II. The department of health and human services shall:

(a) Collaborate and partner with local cultural resource centers that provide programs, events and support tailored to specific cultural communities.

(b) Encourage participation in cultural community events, festivals and activities that allow foster children to engage with their cultural heritage.

(c) Establish a means by which foster children and foster families can provide feedback on the effectiveness of cultural support, allowing for continuous evaluation and improvement.

(d) Develop and publish a timeline for the implementation of the provisions of this section, including the activation of training programs, the assignment of cultural advocates, and the development of community collaborations and partnerships, and shall thereafter publish regular reports on the progress of the implementation of the provisions of this section.

170-E:52-d Cultural Foster Care Fund. There is established a nonlapsing fund to be known as the cultural foster care fund, which shall be kept separate and distinct from all other funds. The cultural foster care fund shall be administered by the commissioner of the department of health and human services for purpose of paying costs associated with administering the provisions of this subdivision, including: the development of cultural training programs for foster families; compensation for cultural advocates; and support for cultural resource centers and community partnerships. The department may accept funds from any source, including state appropriations, federal funds, and private gifts, grants, or donations for deposit in the cultural foster care fund.

6 New Subparagraph; Dedicated Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after paragraph (410) the following new subparagraph:

(411) Moneys deposited in the cultural foster care fund under RSA 170-E:52-d.

7 New Paragraph; Foster Care Children's Bill of Rights; Maintenance of Child's Cultural Background. Amend RSA 170-G:21 by inserting after paragraph XV the following new paragraph:

XVI. To live in an environment that maintains and reflects the child's cultural background and heritage.

8 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.

1 Statement of Purpose. The purpose of this act is to:

I. Support the ability of children in foster care to maintain their cultural identity.

II. Educate and train foster families in cultural sensitivity and practices.

III. Ensure the availability of cultural advocates for ongoing support of foster children.

IV. Facilitate community engagement in preserving cultural practices.

2 Child Day Care Licensing; Rulemaking; Consideration of the Child's Cultural Background. Amend RSA 170-E:11, I(j) to read as follows:

(j) Protection and fostering of the particular religious faith and cultural background of the children served, where applicable.

3 Residential Care and Child-Placing Agency Licensing; Rulemaking; Consideration of the Child's Cultural Background. Amend RSA 170-E:34, I(a)(10) to read as follows:

(10) Protection and fostering of the particular religious faith and cultural background of the children served, where applicable.

4 New Paragraph: Foster Parents; Required Cultural Training. Amend RSA 170-E:52 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:

VII. The department of health and human services shall require foster parents to certify that they have completed a program of instruction that covers:

(a) Cultural awareness and sensitivity.

(b) The importance to the child of maintaining cultural practices such as language,

food, and celebrations.

(c) Strategies for integrating cultural elements into the child's daily life.

(d) Resources available in the community for engagement with the child's cultural heritage.

5 New Sections; Foster Care; Definitions; Cultural Advocates; Cultural Resources and Community Engagement. Amend RSA 170-E by inserting after section 52 the following new sections:

170-E:52-a Definitions. In this subdivision:

I. "Cultural background" means the cultural heritage and religious traditions of a child's birth parents and other birth relatives.

II. "Cultural heritage" means the practices, rituals, language, arts, and social norms that characterize a specific group and contribute to their unique identity.

III. "Cultural foster care" means a specialized foster care system that seeks to place children with families who share or respect their cultural background.

IV. "Cultural advocate" means a trained professional who supports a child's cultural background and helps both the child and the foster family to integrate the child's cultural background into the foster care.

170-E:52-b Cultural Advocates for Children Placed in Foster Care.

I. Every child placed in cultural foster care shall be assigned a cultural advocate within 30 days after placement.

II. The cultural advocate shall be responsible for:

(a) Assessing the child's cultural needs and preferences.

(b) Assisting foster families in understanding and integrating the child's cultural background into the foster care.

(c) Facilitating connections with cultural community resources such as cultural

centers, religious organizations, and community groups.

(d) Monitoring the child's adjustment to foster care in relation to their cultural identity.

170-E:52-c Cultural Resources and Community Engagement.

I. The general court finds that sensitivity and support for a foster child's cultural heritage and background plays an integral, indispensable, and vital role in the daily lives of foster children in the state of New Hampshire. The general court further finds that it is in the best interest of the department of health and human services to collaborate and partner with organizations and individuals who can provide foster children and their foster parents with meaningful access, engagement and exposure to culturally appropriate events and experiences.

II. The department of health and human services shall:

(a) Collaborate and partner with local cultural resource centers that provide programs, events and support tailored to specific cultural communities.

(b) Encourage participation in cultural community events, festivals and activities that allow foster children to engage with their cultural heritage.

(c) Establish a means by which foster children and foster families can provide feedback on the effectiveness of cultural support, allowing for continuous evaluation and improvement.

(d) Develop and publish a timeline for the implementation of the provisions of this section, including the activation of training programs, the assignment of cultural advocates, and the development of community collaborations and partnerships, and shall thereafter publish regular reports on the progress of the implementation of the provisions of this section.

170-E:52-d Cultural Foster Care Fund. There is established a nonlapsing fund to be known as the cultural foster care fund, which shall be kept separate and distinct from all other funds. The cultural foster care fund shall be administered by the commissioner of the department of health and human services for purpose of paying costs associated with administering the provisions of this subdivision, including: the development of cultural training programs for foster families; compensation for cultural advocates; and support for cultural resource centers and community partnerships. The department may accept funds from any source, including state appropriations, federal funds, and private gifts, grants, or donations for deposit in the cultural foster care fund.

6 New Subparagraph; Dedicated Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after paragraph (410) the following new subparagraph:

(411) Moneys deposited in the cultural foster care fund under RSA 170-E:52-d.

7 New Paragraph; Foster Care Children's Bill of Rights; Maintenance of Child's Cultural Background. Amend RSA 170-G:21 by inserting after paragraph XV the following new paragraph:

XVI. To live in an environment that maintains and reflects the child's cultural background and heritage.

8 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.