What causes family to be denied?

I have a cousin that is in fostercare in another state. I called DHS in that state and let them know that I was family and that I wanted the child. They told me no. RU was not a goal and it was going adoption but they wanted to keep the child in state. So they picked a foster home over a family home and did not even get my NAME. So they could just decide against it. They told me that I could get an attorney and fight it if I wanted but they were not going to even look at me for kinship care.