Cap. 491 Art. 2Definitions.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

"accredited agency" means an organisation which is accredited by the central authority to carry out foster care placements;

"Board of Appeal" means the board established by virtue of article 14 or such other administrative board or tribunal which the Minister may from time to time designate to carry out all or any of the functions as specified in this Act; "care plan" means a plan drawn up by a social worker of an accredited agency in collaboration with others involved in the best interests of the child;

"central authority" means the Authority established by virtue of article 6;

"child" means a person under eighteen years of age; "cross-border foster care" means:

(i) the care provided by a foster carer who is a Maltese citizen, to a child who is not a Maltese citizen and who is resident in Malta; or

(ii) the care provided by a foster carer who is not a Maltese citizen and whose approval by a foreign authority is recognised by the central authority, through an accredited agency, to a child who is resident in Malta;

"foster care" means a service for a determinate period whereby a child is placed in the continuous care of a foster carer, and through which the child is brought up in a family environment according to his best interests; "foster care agreement" means the agreement entered into in accordance with article 24; "foster carer" means one or more persons approved by the Fostering Board to foster a child; "Fostering Board" means the board established by virtue of

*Repealed by Act XXIII of 2019.