Substantiated finding of abuse & neglect by social workers can be appealed to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), although, in my experience, people seldom do so.  However, over the past year, I have handled two such appeals with positive outcomes.  The first involved a substantiated finding of abuse arising out of an incident of domestic violence, i.e. mom and dad fighting in front of child.  The finding was completely reversed by the ALJ.  The second involved a substantiated finding of neglect based on a foster parent's use of marijuana.  The substantiated finding was amended to a finding of "Family in Need of Services."  Both outcomes had the effect of keeping the accused perpetrators off the Cabinet's Central Registry.  Being on the registry can result in the loss of certain employment opportunities, professional licenses, and prohibit a parent from participating in certain school activities involving any child.