Identification of Neglect

Offers resources to define and identify the signs and symptoms of different types of child neglect.

• Physical neglect
• Educational neglect
• Medical neglect
• Chronic neglect

The Role of Cultural Competency in Effective Consumer Service Delivery [Webinar]
National Children’s Advocacy Center (2013)
Presents strategies for developing a culturally sensitive and competent workforce to respond to growing diversity among consumers within human services.

State Child Abuse Programs
American Academy of Pediatrics
Lists State programs that have expertise in the medical diagnosis of child abuse.

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Physical neglect

Physical neglect is the failure to provide for a child's basic survival needs, such as nutrition, clothing, shelter, hygiene, and medical care. Physical neglect may also involve inadequate supervision of a child and other forms of reckless disregard of the child's safety and welfare.

Children Caring for Themselves and Child Neglect: When Do They Overlap?
Zielewski, Malm, & Geen (2006)
Urban Institute
Considers how child welfare agencies determine whether unsupervised children are victims of neglect. The report includes the prevalence and definitions of self-care, the significance of lack of supervision, reasons families leave children unattended, and more.

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Educational neglect

Educational neglect involves the failure of a parent or caregiver to enroll a child of mandatory school age in school or to provide appropriate homeschooling or needed special education training.

Chronic School Absenteeism in the Elementary Grades
Sugrue (2015)
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare
Examines a truancy intervention program, be@school, designed to address chronic absenteeism for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The materials presented are intended for child protection workers and supervisors working with children who are experiencing chronic absenteeism.

Definition of Neglect Includes Failure to Educate Child
Casey Family Programs
Displays a U.S. map that indicates whether a State’s definition of child abuse and neglect includes language concerning the failure to educate children. Additional information about each State’s statute is also available.

Educational Empowerment: A Child’s Right to Attend Public School (PDF - 223 KB)
Green (2014)
The Georgetown Law Journal, 103
Discusses the circumstances of a homeschooled youth wanting to attend public school and what the legal rights of the youth and parents are.

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Medical neglect

Medical neglect is the failure to provide or to allow needed care as recommended by a competent health-care professional for a physical injury, illness, medical condition, or impairment. It also includes the failure to seek timely and appropriate medical care for a serious health problem that any reasonable person would have recognized as needing professional medical attention.

Medical Neglect Specifically Defined in Statute
Casey Family Programs
Displays a U.S. map that indicates whether a State’s definition of child abuse and neglect includes language concerning medical neglect. Additional information about each State’s statute is also available

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Chronic neglect

Chronic neglect is any type of child neglect that occurs on a recurring or enduring basis.

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