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.