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SELECTED READINGS ON CHILD NEGLECT

NCJ Number
65020
Author(s)
S L KLAUS
Date Published
1980
Length
71 pages
Annotation
THIS PUBLICATION PRESENTS SIX PAPERS THAT DISCUSS DEFINITIONS, STANDARDS, TREATMENT, COURT PROCEEDINGS, AND OTHER IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF CHILD NEGLECT.
Abstract
THE PAPERS WERE SELECTED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT FROM THE LITERATURE PROCESSED BY THEIR CLEARINGHOUSE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT INFORMATION. THE FIRST PAPER POINTS OUT THAT, ALTHOUGH CHILD ABUSE AND CHILD NEGLECT ARE RELATED, THEY ARE BY NO MEANS IDENTICAL. DISCUSSION HIGHLIGHTS THE DIFFERENCES IN LEGAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF NEGLECT. THE SECOND ARTICLE DESCRIBES A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP HELD IN MONTOGOMERY COUNTY, MD.. THE WORKSHOP FOCUSED ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE EMOTIONALLY NEGLECTED CHILDREN, AND IT CONCLUDED THAT EMOTIONAL NEGLECT OF A CHILD EQUALS THE PARENTS' REFUSAL TO RECOGNIZE AND TAKE ACTION TO AMELIORATE A CHILD'S IDENTIFIED EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE. NEXT, STANDARDS OF NEGLECT ARE DISCUSSED IN AN EFFORT TO ASSIST CHILD PROTECTION WORKERS IN EVALUATION OF AND INTERVENTION WITH NEGLECTFUL PARENTS. CASEWORK TREATMENT OF THE NEGLECTFUL MOTHER PROVIDES THE TOPIC FOR THE FOLLOWING PAPER THAT ASSERTS THAT THE CASEWORKER SHOULD TREAT THE NEGLECTFUL MOTHER AS A PERSON WHO IS EMOTIONALLY STILL A CHILD. SEVERAL CASE STUDIES ARE CITED TO ILLUSTRATE SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT TECHNIQUES. IN ADDITION, A STUDY OF TREATING INFANTS WITH NONORGANIC FAILURE TO THRIVE IS PRESENTED. THE STUDY NOTES THAT PARENTS OF SUCH INFANTS CAN BE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE PSYCHOSOCIAL PROFILES ACCORDING TO THESE FACTORS: DEFICIENT MOTHER-CRAFTING SKILLS, SOCIAL ORIGINS, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ORIGINS OF FAILURE TO THRIVE. THE FINAL PAPER, ON A NEW FOCUS ON CHILD NEGLECT PROCEEDINGS, DISCUSSES THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN PAYMENTS OF NATURAL PARENTS AND PAYMENTS TO CARE FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER HOMES. THE ARTICLE SURVEYS THE NATURE AND LEGAL STATUS OF THE VARIOUS INTERESTS INVOLVED IN CHILD NEGLECT PROCEEDINGS, THE TEST GOVERNING DISPOSITION, AND APPROACHES TO SOME LEGAL BASES WHICH MIGHT BE USED TO REVERSE THE INSTANCES OF PLACING CHILDREN IN FOSTER HOMES MAINLY DUE TO THEIR PARENTS' POVERTY. TABLES, FOOTNOTES, DRAWINGS, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)