Home > Child Neglect: A Guide for Prevention, Assessment, and Intervention > Purpose and Overview

Child Neglect: A Guide for Prevention, Assessment and Intervention.
User Manual Series (2006)

Author(s):  Children's Bureau DePanfilis

Year Published:  2006

Email  Print  (PDF 2163 KB)  Share

Rate This    4.8/5, 10 Reviews

previous

You are in section: Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgments 1 - Purpose and Overview 2 - Definition and Scope of Neglect 3 - Impact of Neglect 4 - Risk and Protective Factors 5 - Assessment of Child Neglect 6 - Child Neglect Prevention and… Endnotes Appendix A - Glossary of Terms Appendix B - Resource Listings Appendix C - State Telephone Numbers… Appendix D - Neglect and the Child and…

next

Chapter 1
Purpose and Overview

Child protective services (CPS), a division within State and local social service agencies, is at the center of every community's child protection efforts. In most jurisdictions, CPS is the agency mandated by law to conduct an initial assessment or investigation of reports of child abuse or neglect. It also offers services to families and children when maltreatment has occurred or is likely to occur.

CPS does not work alone. Many community professionals—including law enforcement officers, health care providers, mental health professionals, educators, legal and court system personnel, and substitute care providers—are involved in efforts to prevent, identify, investigate, and treat child abuse and neglect. In addition, community- and faith-based organizations, substance abuse treatment facilities, advocates for victims of domestic violence, extended family members, and concerned citizens play important roles in supporting families and in keeping children safe from harm. Typically, CPS is the lead agency in coordinating the efforts of the various disciplines working to protect children and to educate the community about the problems of child abuse and neglect.

This interdisciplinary approach is particularly evident in addressing the complex aspects of neglect. Other manuals in this series, A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and Neglect: The Foundation for Practice and Child Protective Services: A Guide for Caseworkers, provide fundamental information that CPS professionals must know in order to perform essential casework functions. This manual, Child Neglect: A Guide for Assessment, Prevention, and Intervention, covers neglect's definition, causes, impact, and prevention and intervention strategies in more detail. It also builds on both of the earlier manuals, reiterates some of their most important points, and addresses the following topics:

• Definition and scope of neglect;
  
  
• Impact of neglect;
  
  
• Risk and protective factors;
  
  
• Assessment of child neglect;
  
  
• Child neglect prevention and intervention.
  
  

previous

You are in section: Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgments 1 - Purpose and Overview 2 - Definition and Scope of Neglect 3 - Impact of Neglect 4 - Risk and Protective Factors 5 - Assessment of Child Neglect 6 - Child Neglect Prevention and… Endnotes Appendix A - Glossary of Terms Appendix B - Resource Listings Appendix C - State Telephone Numbers… Appendix D - Neglect and the Child and…

next

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Email  Print  (PDF 2163 KB)  Share

Updated on October 9, 2009