Defining Neglect

Dee Wilson, a foremost researcher on neglect, includes in his definition of neglect "the behavior of a parent or caregiver when he or she fails or refuses to provide basic, necessary care for a child’s safety, health or well-being, such as medical or physical care, nurturance, protection, etc." Some neglect may be situational and specific, such as limited to one form of neglect, but chronic neglect is frequently across all child care domains.

Here are some generally accepted definitions of neglect.

Not tending to basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and medical care, resulting in failure-to-thrive, malnutrition, untreated serious infections and diseases, and physical harm in form of cuts, bruises and burns due to lack of supervision.

Includes failure to thrive when an infant is not nurtured or cared for or doesn’t receive adequate nurturing, touch or care; allowing a child to be exposed to inappropriate adults, such as witnessing inappropriate sexuality or drug use, withholding of affections, or allowing a child to use drugs or alcohol, or the extreme forms of neglect, abandonment

Allowing a child to engage in chronic truancy, failure to provide appropriate and responsible care to a child, leaving children in unsafet situations such as the overly responsible care of a younger sibling when unable to do so,

Failure to provide for appropriate health care for a child although financially able to do so. the refusal of or extreme delay in seeking necessary health care,

Failure to assume adequate responsibility for the child such as leaving the child with no plans for return