Mo. Rev. Stat. § 210.1253: Definitions.

As used in sections 210.1250 to 210.1286, unless the context clearly provides otherwise, the following terms mean:

(1) "Child" , a person who is under eighteen years of age;

(2) "Department" , the department of social services, or the children's division within the department of social services, as determined by the department;

(3) "Director" , a person who is responsible for the operation of the residential care facility;

(4) "Exempt-from-licensure" or "license-exempt" , a residential care facility that is not required to be licensed under section 210.516;

(5) "Person" , an individual, partnership, organization, association, or corporation;

(6) "Residential care facility" , any place, facility, or home operated by any person who receives children who are not related to the operator and whose parent or guardian is not a resident of the same facility and that provides such children with supervision, care, lodging, and maintenance for twenty-four hours a day, with or without transfer of custody.