§ 32A-3A-2. Definitions

As used in the Voluntary Placement and Family Services Act: A. “ child or family in need of family services ” means a family: (1) whose child's behavior endangers the child's health, safety, education or well-being; (2) whose child is excessively absent from public school as defined in the Attendance for Success Act; (3) whose child is absent from the child's place of residence for twenty-four hours or more without the consent of the parent, guardian or custodian; (4) in which the parent, guardian or custodian of a child refuses to permit the child to live with the parent, guardian or custodian; or (5) in which the child refuses to live with the child's parent, guardian or custodian; B. “ family services ” means services that address specific needs of the child or family; C. “ guardian ” means a person appointed as a guardian by a court or Indian tribal authority; D. “ guardianship assistance agreement ” means a written agreement entered into by the prospective guardian and the department or Indian tribe prior to the establishment of the guardianship by a court; E. “ guardianship assistance payments ” means payments made by the department to a kinship guardian or successor guardian on behalf of a child pursuant to the terms of a guardianship assistance agreement; F. “ guardianship assistance program ” means the financial subsidy program provided for in the Voluntary Placement and Family Services Act; G. “ kinship ” means the relationship that exists between a child and a relative of the child, a godparent, a member of the child's tribe or clan or an adult with whom the child has a significant bond; H. “ subsidized guardianship ” means a guardianship that meets subsidy eligibility criteria pursuant to the Voluntary Placement and Family Services Act; and I. “ voluntary placement agreement ” means a written agreement between the department and the parent or guardian of a child.