"Child welfare agency" means a public or private child care facility, receiving any child or children for the purpose of placing or arranging for the placement of the child or children in foster family homes or other facilities for child care, apart from the custody of the child's or children's parents. The term "child welfare agency" includes all agencies established and maintained by a municipality or other political subdivision of the State of Illinois to protect, guard, train or care for children outside their own homes, but does not include any circuit court or duly appointed juvenile probation officer or youth counselor of the court, who receives and places children under an order of the court. [225 ILCS 10/2.08] (R 401)