Synonyms
Definition
Child neglect is defined as acts of omission by a caregiver that include failure to provide for a child’s basic physical, emotional, or educational needs and/or failure to protect a child from harm or potential harm (Leeb et al. 2008). The resultant harm to a child may or may not be the intended consequence of the act of omission, but still represents neglect. Neglect typically consists of a chronic pattern of acts of omission by a caregiver that result in actual or potential harm to a child. However, there are specific singular instances where failure to supervise can result in significant harm to a child (e.g., injury, death).
A caregiver is defined as a person who at the time of the maltreatment is in a permanent (primary caregiver) or temporary (substitute caregiver) role. In a custodial role, the person is responsible for care and control of the child and for the child’s overall health and welfare. A primary caregiver lives with the...
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References and Further Reading
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Jent, J., Merrick, M. (2020). Child Neglect. In: Gellman, M.D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39903-0_734
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