Preventing Child Neglect:It’s More than a Family Matter

THE SEARCH FOR A DEFINITION

While there is no singular definition of child neglect, a generic statement that is unlikely to be refuted is:

Child Neglect is a failure to meet children’s basic needs – whether the failure is the responsibility of parents, communities, or society – and this void places children in harm’s way.

CONCEPTUALIZING NEGLECT

Parental neglect of children

Societal neglect of families

Societal neglect of communities

Community neglect of families

BASICS OF CHILD NEGLECT

Neglect is not one monolithic category – physical, medical, emotional & educational neglect, &

inadequate supervision Dominant and most pervasive form of CA/N 70% of all child fatalities (2012) Only type of CA/N that has not declined over time More likely to recur than other forms of CA/N When recurring, cumulative impacts to child over time Can seriously impair child’s physical, cognitive, & social

and emotional development

BASICS OF CHILD NEGLECT

No Single Cause of NeglectFour Evidence-Informed Characteristics that

contribute to or are associated with child neglect Low socio-economic status Maternal depression and mental health disorders Substance abuse Interpersonal violence

COSTS OF CHILD NEGLECT

NON-FATAL VICTIMSLifetime Costs: $210,012 per victim $32,648 childhood health care $10,530 adult medical costs $144,360 productivity losses $7,728 child welfare costs $6,747 criminal justice costs $7,999 special education costs

FATAL VICTIMSLifetime Costs: $1,272,900 per victim $14,100 medical costs $1,258,800 productivity losses

Total Lifetime Economic Burden of fatal & non-fatal child maltreatment (2008):

$124 billion

(Fang, et al., 2012)

Understanding Neglect

within an Ecological

System

RESOURCES FROM THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF CHILDREN’S TRUST AND

PREVENTION FUNDS

www.ctfalliance.org/neglect