The first paper raises issues presented by child neglect in the context of criminal law enforcement under Canadian law and its interaction with provincial child welfare delivery systems. It notes that child neglect does not become a criminal offense under Canadian law until such neglect is "serious," i.e., it clearly poses a threat to the child's life and/or physical health. Any child neglect that does not approach this level of threat comes under the jurisdiction of child welfare agencies. This paper questions whether such a narrow definition of criminal child neglect may prevent the police from acting in a preventive or pre-emptive way to protect a neglected child. Issues raised for the conference are whether a broader definition of criminal child neglect is needed, how child neglect should be defined, whether a new mandate is needed for police in addressing child neglect, and who should be partners with the police in a new mandate. The second paper argues that child welfare practices in North America are still guided by the standard that poverty-related neglect is not considered a child protective services responsibility if the parents are using their available, although meager, resources to care for their children. It further argues that policies and programs must address the needs of poor families whose resources are not sufficient to provide for the good health and development of their children. Also, criminal policies regarding child neglect must not punish parents because they are poor. 3 references