What To Know About Child Neglect
Child neglect is one of the most common forms of child mistreatment. Learn more about child neglect, including why it happens and how to report it.
Medically reviewed by Samantha MannMedically reviewed by Samantha Mann
Child neglect is one of the most common forms of child mistreatment. It can affect a child’s physical and mental health and can lead to long-term adverse consequences. Child neglect springs from many complex issues, including parental mental health, poverty, and drug and alcohol use.
According to the Children’s Bureau of the Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 678,000 US children were deemed victims of abuse or neglect in 2018, with about 60.8% of those suffering from neglect. Moreover, the bureau estimated that 1,770 children died in 2018 from abuse or neglect.
The Federal Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act (CAPTA) legally defines neglect as "any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker that presents an imminent risk of serious harm to the child." But what does child neglect look like in practice? Learn about the types of child neglect, signs of neglect, and how to report it.
How State Laws Define Child Neglect
Child neglect has legal definitions at the federal and state levels. State laws often define neglect as the failure of a parent or caregiver to provide needed food, shelter, clothing, medical care, or supervision to the degree that a child’s health, safety, and well-being are threatened with harm.
Some states include exceptions for determining neglect. For example, a parent who declines certain medical treatments for a child based on religious beliefs may be given an exemption.
A parent's financial situation may also be taken into consideration. A parent living in poverty who struggles to provide children with adequate food or shelter, for example, may not be considered neglectful if the family is applying for financial assistance or if they're doing the best they can with what they have. Additionally, some parents may need to leave children at home or under the care of older siblings while they work or go to school.
Types of Child Neglect
When you think of a neglected child, what may come to mind is a child going hungry or left at home alone for long periods of time. But neglect comes in many different forms.
According to the Children’s Bureau of the US Department of Health and Human Services, there are several basic types of child neglect, including:
Educational neglect, such as failing to enroll a child in school, allowing a child to repeatedly skip school, or ignoring a child’s special education needs
Emotional neglect, such as exposing a child to domestic violence or substance use or not providing affection or emotional support
Inadequate supervision, such as leaving a child who can’t care for themselves home alone, not protecting a child from safety hazards, or leaving the child with inadequate caregivers
Medical neglect, such as denying or delaying necessary or recommended medical treatment
Physical neglect, such as failing to care for a child’s basic needs like hygiene, clothing, nutrition, or shelter, or abandoning a child
Related: As a Survivor of Child Abuse, Here's How I Handle My Triggers in Parenting
Risk Factors for Child Neglect
Most parents have good intentions and don't set out to neglect their children. But, unfortunately, some parents aren't able to adequately meet a child's needs.
What Increases the Risk of Child Neglect?
The following factors have been found to increase a child’s risk of being neglected:
Child factors like developmental delays
Environmental factors such as poverty, lack of social support, or neighborhood distress
Family factors like single-parent households, domestic violence, historically underserved communities, or family stress
Parent factors like unemployment, low income, young maternal age, parenting stress, health issues, mental illness, or substance use
Sometimes neglect is completely unintentional, such as the case of a young parent who doesn’t understand basic child development. They may not recognize how often their infant needs to be fed or changed or know that a 5-year-old shouldn't be left home alone.
At other times, a parent's mental illness or substance use issues may prevent them from providing their children with adequate care. A parent who is under the influence of drugs may not be able to prevent their toddler from wandering outside alone, for example.
It's important to recognize that child neglect isn’t always the result of a parent failing to attend to their children’s needs; sometimes, the options aren’t available due to a lack of funds, understanding, support, resources, or other practical reasons. These families require support.
What Are the Warning Signs of Child Neglect?
Often, it’s a teacher or a concerned neighbor or relative who may recognize warning signs that a child is neglected. An underweight child who only rarely attends school or a young child who plays outside at all hours of the day without an adult in sight may raise red flags.
There are a number of signs that could indicate the possibility that a child is being neglected. Outward signs may include frequent absences from school, poor hygiene such as being consistently dirty or having severe body odor, lack of sufficient clothing, and being inappropriately dressed for the weather. Things that suggest that the child isn't receiving needed medical, dental, or vision care are also warning signs.
Additionally, the child's behavior may raise flags. Children who steal or beg for food or money, use alcohol and drugs, or simply state that they are regularly home alone may be experiencing neglect.
Signs that a parent or caregiver may not be adequately caring for a child typically center around their behaviors such as an appearance of indifference or apathy toward their child, misuse of drugs or alcohol, or irrational or bizarre behavior.
Consequences of Child Neglect
Neglect impacts a child's overall development and health and has physical, psychological, and behavioral consequences. Even if a child is removed from a bad situation, the consequences of neglect can last for a long time and can even lead to high-risk behaviors like substance use.
Health and development problems
Malnourishment may impair brain development. A lack of adequate immunizations and medical problems could lead to a variety of health conditions. The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being discovered that 50.3% of children suffered from special health care needs three years after being removed from a neglectful situation.
Cognitive impairments
A lack of appropriate stimulation could lead to ongoing intellectual problems. Children with a history of neglect may have academic problems or delayed or impaired language development.
Emotional problems
Neglect can lead to attachment issues, problems with self-esteem and self-worth, and difficulty trusting others.
Social and behavioral problems
Children who are neglected may struggle to develop healthy relationships, and they may experience behavior disorders or disinhibited social engagement disorder. NSCAW data determined that more than half of those who were mistreated in youth were at risk of substance use, delinquency, truancy, or unplanned pregnancy.
Death
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 75% of all child maltreatment-related deaths include neglect. Fatal incidents of neglect are most likely to occur with children under the age of 7. Neglect fatalities most often stem from a lack of supervision, chronic physical neglect, or medical neglect.
Related: Is Child Welfare Protecting or Policing Black Children?
Treatment of Child Neglect
While the process varies by state, typically a social worker or a child protective services agent will contact the family to schedule an interview or a visit once a report of child neglect is filed. Their primary responsibility is to ensure the child is safe.
Sometimes, they are able to increase safety and reduce neglect simply by providing the family with resources and education. In other cases, children may need to be placed in another environment to prevent further harm. For example, a child may be placed in foster care or with a relative who can provide adequate care.
These professionals can then assist with appropriate interventions, such as medical services, dental care, or educational services. When warranted, the social worker or agent will refer the case to family or criminal court.
After the most immediate concerns are addressed, each child's needs are evaluated to determine what types of intervention might be beneficial for them. For instance, children who have experienced maltreatment may benefit from mental health services. Likewise, substance abuse services or mental health treatment may be provided to caregivers to help them become better equipped to care for their children.
How To Report Child Neglect
State laws vary on who is required by law to report child neglect, but anyone is able to report suspected neglect. In some states, only medical professionals, teachers, child care providers, and law enforcement officers are mandated reporters.
In other states, any person who suspects abuse or neglect is required to report it. Reasonable suspicion—including firsthand observations or overhearing statements made by the parent or child—is all that is needed to report potential abuse or neglect.
Support Services and Resources
If you are a victim of child neglect or abuse (or know someone who might be), call or text the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 to speak with a professional crisis counselor.
While you may be reluctant to report child neglect, it's important that you notify the appropriate authorities if you suspect something is wrong. Trained professionals investigate reports of child neglect and abuse. A comprehensive assessment helps determine what type of services may be necessary to keep children safe.
If a child is being maltreated, the earlier the authorities can intervene, the earlier the child can get help—and you might have even just saved a child’s life and helped them to get any services and attention they may require.
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