Child Neglect

Child Neglect is the failure of a person with responsibility for the child to provide needed food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision to the degree that the child’s health, safety, and well-being are threatened with harm.

When most people think of child abuse they think of physical abuse and molestation. However, Child Neglect is abuse. It is a more passive abuse, for example, leaving a child home unattended for or without food for an extended period of time.

Neglect is the most common form of Child Mistreatment.

It is a serious issue, perhaps the most serious due to how common it is.

Child Neglect comes in many forms. Some of the most common:

Physical Neglect

This is failure to provide basic physical needs of a child. Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Sanitary Living Conditions are all examples of basic physical needs. People are often found guilty of physical neglect if they abandon a child for long periods of time.

Educational Neglect

Educational Neglect is when a parent/guardian doesn’t enroll the child in school or encourages and/or allows the child to not attend school.

Psychological or Emotional Neglect

This can include a variety of behavior, for example insult, humiliation, failure to provide psychological care, etc.

Medical Neglect

This is when the parent/guardian denies or delays medical care

If you suspect a child may have been neglected, it is important to contact the authorities and report it. California law provides criminal prosecution for neglect. It also allows victims to file civil suit and obtain damages for pain and suffering.