Rhode Island General Laws Title 42. State Affairs and Government § 42-72-3. Definitions

(1) “ Advocate” means the child advocate or any of the child advocate's agents, servants, or employees as established pursuant to this title.

(2) “ Child” or “ children” means any person under the age of eighteen (18); provided that children over the age of eighteen (18) and who continue to receive services from the department and/or who are defined as emotionally disturbed and/or as children with functional developmental disabilities as referenced in this section shall be considered “ children” for all the purposes of this chapter.

(3) “ Child abuse and neglect” is that term as defined in chapter 11 of title 40.

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

(5) “ Director” means the director of children, youth and families, or the director's designee.

(6) “ Infant” means any person under the age of twenty-four (24) months.

(7) “ Near fatality” means an act that, as certified by a physician, placed the child in serious or critical condition.

(8) “ Regional service center” means the respective local or regional units established by the director.