CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
USER MANUAL SERIES
Child Neglect: A Guide for
Prevention, Assessment
and Intervention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Children's Bureau
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect
,Child Neglect: A Guide for
Prevention, Assessment, and
Intervention
Diane DePanfilis
2006
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Children’s Bureau
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect
, Table of Contents
Preface.......................................................................................................................................................1
acknowledgments........................................................................................................................ 3
1.. PurPose.and.overview........................................................................................................ 7
2.. definition.and.scoPe.of.neglect................................................................................. 9
What.Is.Neglect?..............................................................................................................................9
Types.of.Neglect............................................................................................................................11
Signs.of.Possible.Neglect................................................................................................................15
Scope.of.the.Problem.....................................................................................................................16
3.. imPact.of.neglect.............................................................................................................. 21
Health.and.Physical.Development.................................................................................................22
Intellectual.and.Cognitive.Development........................................................................................24
Emotional,.Psychosocial,.and.Behavioral.Development..................................................................25
4.. risk.and.Protective.factors......................................................................................... 29
Environmental.Factors...................................................................................................................29
Family.Factors................................................................................................................................33
Parent.or.Caregiver.Factors............................................................................................................36
Child.Factors.................................................................................................................................39
5.. assessment.of.cHild.neglect....................................................................................... 43
Framework.for.Practice..................................................................................................................45
Intake............................................................................................................................................45
Initial.Assessment.or.Investigation.................................................................................................46
Family.Assessment.Process.............................................................................................................49
Structured.Assessment.Measures....................................................................................................52
Child Neglect: A Guide for Prevention, Assessment, and Intervention i
, 6.. cHild.neglect.Prevention.and.intervention..................................................... 55
Principles.for.Effective.Prevention.and.Intervention.......................................................................55
Theoretical.Frameworks.and.Approaches........................................................................................57
Key.Steps.in.the.Intervention.Process.............................................................................................63
Promising.Practices.for.Intervention..............................................................................................68
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................71
endnotes.......................................................................................................................................... 73
aPPendices:
. aPPendix.a—glossarY.of.terms.................................................................................... 87
. aPPendix.B—resource.listings.of.selected.national.organiZations.
concerned.witH.cHild.maltreatment.................................................................... 93
. aPPendix.c—state.telePHone.numBers.for.rePorting.cHild.aBuse......... 99.
. aPPendix.d—neglect.and.tHe.cHild.and.familY.services.reviews.......... 101
ii Table of Contents
USER MANUAL SERIES
Child Neglect: A Guide for
Prevention, Assessment
and Intervention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Children's Bureau
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect
,Child Neglect: A Guide for
Prevention, Assessment, and
Intervention
Diane DePanfilis
2006
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Children’s Bureau
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect
, Table of Contents
Preface.......................................................................................................................................................1
acknowledgments........................................................................................................................ 3
1.. PurPose.and.overview........................................................................................................ 7
2.. definition.and.scoPe.of.neglect................................................................................. 9
What.Is.Neglect?..............................................................................................................................9
Types.of.Neglect............................................................................................................................11
Signs.of.Possible.Neglect................................................................................................................15
Scope.of.the.Problem.....................................................................................................................16
3.. imPact.of.neglect.............................................................................................................. 21
Health.and.Physical.Development.................................................................................................22
Intellectual.and.Cognitive.Development........................................................................................24
Emotional,.Psychosocial,.and.Behavioral.Development..................................................................25
4.. risk.and.Protective.factors......................................................................................... 29
Environmental.Factors...................................................................................................................29
Family.Factors................................................................................................................................33
Parent.or.Caregiver.Factors............................................................................................................36
Child.Factors.................................................................................................................................39
5.. assessment.of.cHild.neglect....................................................................................... 43
Framework.for.Practice..................................................................................................................45
Intake............................................................................................................................................45
Initial.Assessment.or.Investigation.................................................................................................46
Family.Assessment.Process.............................................................................................................49
Structured.Assessment.Measures....................................................................................................52
Child Neglect: A Guide for Prevention, Assessment, and Intervention i
, 6.. cHild.neglect.Prevention.and.intervention..................................................... 55
Principles.for.Effective.Prevention.and.Intervention.......................................................................55
Theoretical.Frameworks.and.Approaches........................................................................................57
Key.Steps.in.the.Intervention.Process.............................................................................................63
Promising.Practices.for.Intervention..............................................................................................68
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................71
endnotes.......................................................................................................................................... 73
aPPendices:
. aPPendix.a—glossarY.of.terms.................................................................................... 87
. aPPendix.B—resource.listings.of.selected.national.organiZations.
concerned.witH.cHild.maltreatment.................................................................... 93
. aPPendix.c—state.telePHone.numBers.for.rePorting.cHild.aBuse......... 99.
. aPPendix.d—neglect.and.tHe.cHild.and.familY.services.reviews.......... 101
ii Table of Contents
