Child Neglect: A Guide for Intervention

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You are in section: Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Defining Neglect 3. Understanding the Causes of Neglect 4. Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Neglect 5. Assessment of Neglect 6. Intervention 7. Prevention of Neglect 8. Social Policy Implications Glossary of Terms Notes Selected Bibliography Other Resources

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1. Introduction

Everyone in the child protective services (CPS) agency knows the Edwards family. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards and their four children, now ages 8-14, first came to the agency's attention 9 years ago. At that time, the family was on the brink of eviction from their apartment, rent had not been paid for 2 months, the children were not in school, and Mrs. Edwards was pregnant again.

Over the years, despite numerous and frequent crises, the CPS agency has managed to keep the Edwards family together. Maintaining the family has not been easy. Reports of child neglect (e.g., not sending the children to school, missed medical appointments) have surfaced intermittently. Nearly every resource in the agency and community has been tapped at some point in time to meet the family's needs.

Currently, Mr. Edwards is involved in a treatment program for alcoholism, Mrs. Edwards is receiving job training, and the children are doing fairly well in school. While there are signs of progress, the CPS caseworker knows that, at any moment, the Edwards case can "erupt" again.

Another family – the Allen family – is new to the CPS agency. Today, a neighbor reported that Mrs. Allen, a recently divorced 20-year-old, "went out" last night and left her 2-year-old daughter alone. The neighbor heard the toddler crying, entered the unlocked apartment, and cared for the child until Mrs. Allen returned. The neighbor believes that Mrs. Allen is "on drugs."

Child neglect, as exemplified in the Edwards and Allen families, is the most frequently identified type of child maltreatment in the United States. Some families, such as the Edwards, have multiple problems, often requiring long-term CPS intervention. Other families, such as the Allens, may only require short-term CPS intervention. Supportive services, such as child care, single parent support groups, parenting education, and the CPS caseworker's helping relationship, are some ways in which stress can be reduced in the life of a young family. Hopefully, Mrs. Allen will receive the services she needs to prevent the recurrence of child neglect.

Generally, child neglect means the failure of a parent or a caretaker responsible for the child's care to provide minimally adequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision, and/or medical care for the child. Defining "minimally adequate" levels of care, and reaching consensus on these definitions, however, are not easy processes. (See the discussion in the following chapter.) While the debate on definition continues, there is no doubt that child neglect is widespread and serious.

In the 1988 Study of National Incidence and Prevalence of Child Abuse and Neglect, commissioned by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, 64 percent of the projected number of actual cases of child maltreatment in the United States were cases of child neglect.¹ Specifically, the study estimated 917,200 cases of child neglect or an estimated incidence rate of 14.6 per 1,000 children. In contrast, the estimated incidence rate for physical abuse was 4.9 per 1,000 children and 2.1 per 1,000 for sexual abuse. (These estimates are based on child maltreatment recognized by teachers, physicians, social workers, hospital personnel, police, and other community professionals, rather than on official reports made to CPS agencies.)

Even though child neglect is the most frequently identified form of child maltreatment in the United States, community concern about neglectful families lags far behind the concern shown for abusive families. In varying degrees, the neglecting family is a victim of societal neglect. Community service systems must become more responsive to the basic needs of neglecting families; for example, by providing safe, stable, and affordable housing, medical care, and child care. Community efforts also must be directed toward prevention, the strengthening of families, early intervention, and on the alleviation of social problems, such as substance abuse, which contribute to the child neglect. Much more, too, must be done for children who are the victims of neglect. Programs and services targeting neglected children show great promise in alleviating the ramifications of child neglect.

The following chapters are aimed at increasing understanding of child neglect – its manifestations, causes, and effect – and of ways to assess, intervene, and prevent the problem.

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You are in section: Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Defining Neglect 3. Understanding the Causes of Neglect 4. Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Neglect 5. Assessment of Neglect 6. Intervention 7. Prevention of Neglect 8. Social Policy Implications Glossary of Terms Notes Selected Bibliography Other Resources

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