210.481. Definitions.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

Definitions.

210.481. As used in sections 210.481 to 210.536, unless thecontext clearly requires otherwise, the following terms shallmean:

(1) "Child", any individual under eighteen years of age orin the custody of the division;

(2) "Child placing agency", any person, other than theparents, who places a child outside the home of the child'sparents or guardian, or advertises or holds himself forth asperforming such services, but excluding the attorney, physician,or* clergyman of the parents;

(3) "Division", the division of family services of thedepartment of social services of the state of Missouri;

(4) "Foster home", a private residence of one or more familymembers providing twenty-four-hour care to one or more but lessthan seven children who are unattended by parent or guardian andwho are unrelated to either foster parent by blood, marriage, oradoption;

(5) "Guardian", the person designated by a court ofcompetent jurisdiction as the "guardian of the person of a minor"or "guardian of the person and conservator of the estate of aminor";

(6) "License", the document issued by the division inaccordance with the applicable provisions of sections 210.481 to210.536 to a foster home, residential care facility, or childplacing agency which authorizes the foster home, residential carefacility, or child placing agency to operate its program inaccordance with the applicable provisions of sections 210.481 to210.536 and rules issued pursuant thereto;

(7) "Person", any individual, firm, corporation,partnership, association, agency, or an incorporated orunincorporated organization, regardless of the name used;

(8) "Provisional license", the document issued by thedivision in accordance with the applicable provisions of sections210.481 to 210.536 to a foster home, residential care facility,or child placing agency which is not currently meetingrequirements for full licensure;

(9) "Related", any of the following by blood, marriage, oradoption: Parent, grandparent, brother, sister, half-brother,half-sister, stepparent, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle, aunt, orfirst cousin;

(10) "Residential care facility", a facility providingtwenty-four-hour care in a group setting to children who areunrelated to the person operating the facility and who areunattended by a parent or guardian.