The following definitions apply to this chapter.

"Abuse or neglect" means the injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child as defined in RCW 26.44.020 and this chapter.

"Administrative hearing" means a hearing held before an administrative law judge and conducted according to chapter 34.05 RCW and chapter 110-03 WAC.

"Administrative law judge (ALJ)" is an impartial decision-maker who presides at an administrative hearing. The office of administrative hearings, which is a state agency but not part of DCYF, employs the ALJs.

"Alleged perpetrator" means the person identified in a CPS referral as being responsible for the alleged child abuse or neglect.

"Alternative response system" means a contracted provider in a local community that responds to accepted CPS referrals that are rated low or moderately low risk at the time of intake.

"Appellant" means a person who requests an administrative hearing to appeal a CPS finding.

"Child protection team (CPT)" means a multidisciplinary group of persons with at least four persons from professions that provide services to abused or neglected children and/or parents of such children. The CPT provides confidential case staffing and consultation to child welfare cases.

"Child protective services (CPS)" means the section of the department of children, youth, and families for responding to allegations of child abuse or neglect.

"Child welfare programs (CWP)" means the division in DCYF that provides child protective, child welfare, and support services to children and their families.

"Department" or "DCYF" means the Washington state department of children, youth, and families.

"Finding" means the final decision made by a CPS caseworker after an investigation regarding alleged child abuse or neglect.

"Founded" means the determination following an investigation by CPS that based on available information it is more likely than not that child abuse or neglect did occur.

"Inconclusive" means the determination following an investigation by CPS, prior to October 1, 2008, that based on available information a decision cannot be made that more likely than not, child abuse or neglect did or did not occur. Beginning October 1, 2008, the department no longer makes inconclusive findings, but retains such findings made prior to that date as provided in these rules.

"Licensing division (LD)" means the division in DCYF responsible for licensing group care and foster care facilities, and responding to allegations of abuse or neglect in such facilities.

"Mandated reporter" means a person required to report alleged child abuse or neglect as defined in RCW 26.44.030.

"Preponderance of evidence" means the evidence presented in a hearing indicates more likely than not child abuse or neglect did occur.

"Screened-out report" means a report of alleged child abuse or neglect that the department had determined does not rise to the level of credible report of abuse or neglect and is not referred for investigation.

"Unfounded" means the determination following an investigation by CPS that based on available information it is more likely than not that child abuse or neglect did not occur or there is insufficient evidence for the department to determine whether the alleged child abuse did or did not occur.