Two central interests are at stake in the case of child neglect and other forms of maltreatment, child-centered and community-centered interests. A rationale for intervention is provided when one or more of these interests take precedence over family privacy and when they are given a higher priority in community resource allocation than other interests competing for those resources. Public policies related to child maltreatment have evolved from an early rationale based on community-centered interests to a later rationale based on child-centered interests. Child reporting laws, however, seem to reflect concern with protecting both the child and the community. Individual values about child rearing practices sometimes conflict, based on culture and social class, but values of one individual or group should not be imposed on another. Poor women and their children are at greatest risk of neglect. Policy issues associated with child neglect concern family preservation, child welfare, divorce, child custody, children at risk, program costs, and ethical dimensions of neglecting families. 9 references.