Child Neglect: How to Protect Our Children

by- Amanda Hildreth

Neglect can have several long term effects on a child’s mental and physical wellbeing. Children should be in a safe, nourishing, and fulfilling household, so they can grow to be flourishing adults. “At least 1 in 7 children have experienced Child Abuse or neglect in the past year in the United States. In 2020, 1,750 children died of abuse and neglect in the United States” (CDC, 2022). Child Neglect is defined as a failure to meet a child’s most basic needs and is the most common form of Child Abuse (APA, 2018). Various ways a child suffers neglect include denying them supervision, clean clothes, food, shelter, proper education, health care and more.

Types Of Child Neglect

A child can suffer neglect in many ways, which makes neglect difficult to recognize. These are the 4 basic categories and what to look for:

Physical Neglect

Physical Neglect is fairly broad, and occurs when the caregiver is not providing basic physical necessities for the child. Physical neglect includes abandonment, insufficient supervision, keeping the child outside the home, and not providing for the child’s other physical needs or safety. Other types of Physical Neglect include, not providing adequate clothing, nutrition, or hygiene, not removing hazards in the home, and driving with the child while intoxicated.

Emotional Neglect

Emotional Neglect is the hardest form of neglect to recognize since there are no outward signs. Emotional Neglect occurs when a caregiver does not give the child enough affection or nurturing, encourages negative behaviors like assault, and denies the child psychological care, socialization, attention, and support.

Educational Neglect

Educational Neglect occurs when a caregiver allows or forces a child to either not attend school or be chronically absent. Educational Neglect can include refusing to follow treatment recommendations for special education needs and refusing to allow the child to go to school or be homeschooled.

Medical Neglect

Medical Neglect occurs when the proper health care of a child is neglected. This can happen regardless of whether the caregiver can afford medical care. Denying medical treatment leads to poor health in these children such as infected wounds, frequent itching of the skin, and serious illnesses.

The Long-Term Effects of Child Neglect

Long-term effects of abuse can either be immediate or take years to be seen, and can have physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal ramifications. “Childhood maltreatment has been linked to higher risk for a wide range of long-term and/or future health problems” (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2019). Long-term effects can include diabetes, malnutrition, cancer, bowel, disease, and even stroke. Neglected children may also experience underdevelopment of certain parts of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, learning, processing emotions, decision making, and more (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2019).

Child Neglect can cause many psychological problems, and can cause children to feel fear, to distrust, and have low self-esteem. Researchers have identified links between Child Abuse and Neglect with lasting psychological challenges:

• Decreased functioning and cognitive skills.
• Disrupted brain development leading to problems with working memory, cognitive flexibility (i.e., the ability to look at things and situations from different perspectives) and self-control (Kavanaugh et al., 2016).
• Maltreated children also are at risk for other cognitive problems, including difficulties with learning and paying attention (Bick & Nelson, 2016).
• Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders.
• Attachment disorders and problems forming relationships.
• “Antisocial traits … which can lead to criminal behavior in adulthood” (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2019).
• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Children who were neglected often have lingering behavioral difficulties after the neglect ends and into adulthood. “Studies suggest that abused or neglected children are more likely to engage in sexual risk-taking as they reach adolescence, including a higher number of sexual partners, earlier initiation of sexual behavior, and transactional sex (i.e., sex exchanged for money, gifts, or other material support)” (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2019; Thompson et al., 2017). Several studies show a connection between child maltreatment and criminal activities as the child grows. (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2019; Herrenkohl at al., 2017).

There is also a difference in the ways Child Neglect affects girls versus boys. “Girls tended to express internalizing behaviors (e.g., depression, social withdrawal, anxiety), while boys tended to express externalizing behaviors (e.g., bullying, aggression, hostility) leading up to adult criminal behavior” (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2019; Herrenkohl et al., 2017).

How To Prevent or Reduce The Long Term Effects Of Neglect

Communities can restrict the long-term consequences of neglect through prevention and reduction measures.

Individual Level

• Sense of purpose
• Agency (self-efficacy)
• Self-regulation
• Relation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Involvement in positive activities

Relationship Level

• Positive Peers
• Caregiver well-being
• Parenting skills

Community Level

• Positive school environment
• Stable living conditions
• Positive community environment

How To Prevent Child Neglect

Now that you know the types of Child Neglect, long-term effects, and mitigation, the most important question is, how can Child Neglect be prevented?

1. Strengthening Economic Support For Families

Government and company policies can improve work-life balance by being more family friendly and allowing parents to give their children the necessary care they need. As a result, this will likely reduce stress and depression as risk factors.

“Strengthening household financial security may also reduce children’s exposure to crowding and contribute to residential stability and stability in child care arrangements” (CDC, 2016).

2. Giving Quality Care and Education Early

Quality childhood education and child care can improve children’s social and cognitive development, which increases the likelihood they will have a safe childhood environment.

“Preschool enrichment with family engagement programs provide high-quality early education and care to economically disadvantaged children to build a strong foundation for future learning and healthy development” (CDC, 2016).

3. Increasing Parenting Skills

Enhancing parenting skills creates a healthy child-to-parent relationship and often prevents neglect. This can be achieved through early childhood home visitations. “Early childhood home visitation programs provide information, caregiver support, and training about child health, development, and care to families in their homes” (CDC, 2016). Parent skill programs support caregivers and teach proper behavior management and skills to keep families safe for children.

How to Report Child Neglect

If you notice any signs of child Abuse, don’t hesitate to reach out and help. Children are very vulnerable in abusive settings, but knowing people want to help can give them the confidence to seek assistance and possibly escape. You can help by reporting neglect to your local child protective services office or law enforcement (Child Welfare.gov, 2022). If you are going through abuse and don’t know what to do, you are not alone. Children in abusive situations can get help from The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1–800–4-A-CHILD (1–800–422–4453). The organization offers services such as crisis intervention, referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources (Child Welfare.gov, 2022). All calls made are confidential and available 24/7 in over 170 languages (Child Welfare.gov, 2022). Above all else, if there is an immediate emergency or threat of danger, call 911 (Child Welfare.gov, 2022). Don’t be afraid to get the help you or a child needs today.

We at ARO are here to support you in your personal healing journey to complete well-being. We bring awareness and education to 13 different types of abuse including Narcissistic, Sexual, Physical, Psychological, Financial, Child, Self, Cyberbullying, Bullying, Spousal, Elderly, Isolation, and Workplace, and help others heal and find peace. Please support our efforts by going to GoARO.org to learn how you can make an impact on the Abuse Care Community.

Resources

American Psychological Association (2018, April). Child abuse: The national tragedy persists.

Bick, J. & Nelson, C. A. (2016). Early adverse experiences and the developing brain. Neuropsychopharmacology, 41, 177–196.

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Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (2016). Preventing child abuse and neglect: a technical package for policy, norm, and programmatic activities

Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (2022, April). Fast Facts: Preventing child abuse & neglect.

ChildWelfare.gov (2022) How to report child abuse and neglect.

Child Welfare Information Gateway (2004, February). Risk and protecetive factors for child abuse and neglect

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2019). Long-term consequences of child abuse and neglect. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau.

Herrenkohl, T. I., Jung, H., Lee, J. O., & Kim, M.-H. (2017). Effects of child maltreatment, cumulative victimization experiences, and proximal life stress on adult crime and antisocial behavior. National Criminal Justice Reference Service Office of Justice Programs.

Kavanaugh, B.C., Dupont-Frechette, J. A., Jerskey, B.A. & Holler, K. A. (2016). Neurocognitive deficits in children and adolescents following maltreatment: Neurodevelopmental consequences and neuropsychological implications of traumatic stress. Applied Neuropsychology: Child, 6, 64–78. Doi: 10.1080/21622965.2015.1079712

LeTendre, M. L., & Reed, M. B. (2017). The effect of adverse childhood experience on clinical diagnosis of a substance use disorder: Results of a nationally representative study. Substance Use & Misuse, 52(6), 689– 697. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2016.1253746.

Peterson, C., Florence, C., & Klevens, J. (2018). The economic burden of child maltreatment in the United States, 2015. Child Abuse & Neglect, 86, 178–183. Doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.09.018.

Thompson, R., Lewis, T., Neilson, E. C., English, D. J., Litrownik, A. J., Margolis, B., Proctor, L., & Dubowitz, H. (2017). Child maltreatment and risky sexual behavior. Child Maltreatment, 22(1), 69–78. doi: 10.1177/1077559516674595.

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice. (October 12, 2017). Pathways between child maltreatment and adult criminal involvement.

Widom, C. S., Czaja, S. J., Bentley, T., & Johnson, M. S. (2012). A prospective investigation of physical health outcomes in abused and neglected children: New findings from a 30-year follow up. American Journal of Public Health, 102, 1135–1144. doi: 10.2105/ AJPH.2011.300636

Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect (childwelfare.gov)