Glossary of Common Terms & Acronyms

Unsure about a word or term you saw on our Web site? Check out this list of common acronyms. If you still have questions, e-mail communications@del.wa.gov.

ALJ – Administrative law judge
The Office of Administrative Hearings is an independent state agency made up of 74 administrative law judges who conduct impartial administrative hearings for Washington's citizens and governmental agencies.
BCCU – Background Check Central Unit
Part of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Conducts background checks for agencies providing services to children and vulnerable adults.
CA – Children's Administration
A division of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services dedicated to working with children and families to ensure safety and well-being of children.
CAMIS – Case and Management Information System
Information system owned by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. The Department of Early Learning (DEL) uses this information system for licensed child care information.
CCDF – Child Care and Development Fund
Federal program that gives block grant funds to states, territories, and Tribal Nations to assist eligible families in obtaining child care so they can work or attend school/training. Funding also may be used to improve the quality of child care and offer additional services to parents, such as resource and referral counseling regarding the selection of appropriate child care providers to meet their child's needs.
DECA – Deveraux Early Childhood Assessment
Nationally normed assessment of children ages two to five that gives early childhood professionals and families strategies to promote young children's social and emotional development and to enhance the overall quality of early childhood programs.
DEL – Department of Early Learning
State agency created in 2006 to elevate the focus on the importance of a child's earliest years, and integrate early learning efforts. Pronounced "D-E-L"
DLR/CPS – Division of Licensed Resources/Child Protective Services
Part of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Investigates allegations of child abuse or neglect by someone licensed by the state to care for children, including child care providers.
DOH – Department of Health
Washington State department that offers programs and services to help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live and work, provide education to help people make good health decisions, and ensure our state is prepared for emergencies.
DSHS – Department of Social and Health Services
Washington State department that offers protection, comfort, food assistance, financial aid, medical care, and other services to eligible children, families, vulnerable adults, and seniors.
ECE – Early childhood education
ECEAP – Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program
DEL's ECEAP (pronounced “E-Cap”) is the state-funded Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, a preschool program that provides free services and support to eligible children and their families, including preschool, family support and parent involvement, and child health and nutrition services.
ELAC – Early Learning Advisory Council
Created by the Legislature in 2007, ELAC representatives from around the state meet regularly to provide input and recommendations to the Department of Early Learning so our strategies and actions are well-informed and broadly supported by parents, child care providers, health/safety experts, and interested members of the public.
FamLink
New information system currently being designed by Children's Administration at the Department of Social and Health Services to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of field workers, including social workers and child care licensors, with fewer steps and more thorough case analysis. Will replace CAMIS, the current information system.
FFN – Family, friends and neighbors
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, elders, older siblings, friends, neighbors, and others who help families take care of their kids on an informal basis.
HSSCO – Head Start State Collaboration Office
Head Start is a national preschool program that promotes school readiness by providing educational, health, nutrition, social, and other services to enrolled children and families. The Head Start State Collaboration Office at DEL helps develop partnerships that benefit low-income families and children in healthy family development. The office coordinates federal, state, and local policy to help ensure a unified early care and education system.
ITEIP – Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Program
Located in the Department of Social and Health Services Division of Developmental Disabilities. ITEIP provides early intervention services, including family resources coordination, for eligible children from birth to age three and their families.
LCCIS – Licensed Child Care Information System
Department of Early Learning service that provides basic information about licensed child care facilities, including information about valid and inconclusive complaint findings for licensing complaints. Parents and others can access LCCIS either online or by phone.
MLR – Minimum licensing requirements
Washington state regulations for licensed family home child care providers, child care centers, and school-age programs that detail what these licensed programs must do as providers of licensed child care.
NRM – Negotiated rule making
The Negotiated Rule Making process is intended to solicit broad input from interested stakeholders. Currently, the Department of Early Learning is in the middle of the negotiated rule making process for licensed family home child care providers about issues that affect the health, safety, learning, and quality of the home child care environments. The negotiated rule making process is intended to lead to rules that are easily understood so both the licensors and providers will have a clear idea of what is expected.
PAG – Parent Advisory Group
Group of parents who meet regularly via phone or in person to provide feedback and information to help ensure the Department of Early Learning is serving parents well.
QRIS – Quality Rating and Improvement System
Voluntary statewide system currently in pilot phase that will provide incentives and resources for child care providers to improve the quality of their programs, while offering parents valuable information about child care programs available in their community.
R&R – Child Care Resource & Referral
The Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network oversees 18 sites in communities around the state. The local R&Rs offer information to parents on licensed child care providers in their community, and tips on how to find high-quality child care. The local R&Rs also provide training, scholarships, and other resources to licensed child care providers
RCW – Revised Code of Washington
Compilation of all permanent laws now in place for the state
STARS – State Training & Registry System
Career development system designed to improve child care through basic and ongoing training for child care providers. Linked to the state's minimum licensing requirements. Administered by the Washington Association for the Education of Young Children (WAEYC).
WAC – Washington Administrative Code
Compilation of all state regulations.
WCCC – Working Connections Child Care
Program that provides child care subsidies, mainly for families who are working and have incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.