April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Child neglect is the most common form of maltreatment. Although pervasive and sometimes life-threatening, it is often difficult to identify. There are different types of neglect. See the different types provided by Prevent Child Abuse America:
Physical neglect: A child’s need for adequate food, clothing, supervision, housing, or protection from the environment is not adequately met.
Medical neglect: A child does not receive adequate medical, mental or dental health care.
Supervisory Neglect or Inadequate Supervision: A child receives inappropriate supervision or is exposed to hazards.
Educational neglect: A school age child does not receive appropriate educational services, including special educational services if needed. Home schooling should not be viewed as educational neglect.
Emotional neglect: A child does not receive adequate emotional support, care, or affection.
Environmental neglect: A child lives in an unsafe neighborhood, where he/she has limited opportunities or resources and may be exposed to environmental hazards.
There is no single cause of neglect. Instead, there are usually multiple and interacting contributors at child, parent, and community levels. Examples of contributing family risk factors include a child with a disability, and a parent with low intellectual ability or limited knowledge about child development. Community risk factors for child neglect include parental unemployment and lack of community support, as well as burdens associated with poverty. Importantly, positive relationships, including high-quality parenting and care, are protective factors against child neglect.
