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.