Rhode Island General Laws Title 40. Human Services § 40-13.2-1. Definitions

(1) “ Child” means any person less than eighteen (18) years of age, provided that a person over eighteen (18) years of age and not yet twenty-one (21) years of age who is nevertheless subject to continuing jurisdiction of the family court, pursuant to chapter 1 of title 14; or is identified as emotionally disturbed, as defined in chapter 7 of title 40.1 or is identified as developmentally delayed, in accordance with § 40.1-1-8; shall be a child for purposes of this chapter.

(2) “ Department” means the department of children, youth and families.

(3) “ Director” means the director of the department of children, youth and families, or the designee of the director.

(4) “ Person” when used to describe the owner or operator of a facility that must be licensed or registered with the department or when used to describe a youth-serving agency worker includes individuals, associations, and corporations.

(5) “ Volunteer” means any person providing volunteer services who has supervisory or disciplinary authority over a child or children or whose work involves routine contact with a child or children without the presence of other employees or volunteers.

(6) “ Youth-serving agency” means any facility or program that is operated for more than two (2) hours per day at least one day per week and that provides programs and activities for children and employs persons who have supervisory or disciplinary authority over a child or children. School programs operated by schools certified under the provisions of title 16 are not considered youth-serving agencies pursuant to this chapter.

(7) “ Youth-serving agency worker” means any person in the employ of a youth-serving agency who has supervisory or disciplinary authority over a child or children or whose work involves routine contact with a child or children without the presence of other employees. This shall include any private vendor, independent contractor, contract employee or those who are hired by a third party that has contracted with the youth-serving agency to provide services and whose work involves routine contact with a child or children without the presence of other employees.