Child Neglect: Poverty, Stress, And Substance Abuse

Children are our future. They will shape future generations to come and the way our society deals with difficulties. One difficulty that is currently being addressed is child neglect. Child neglect is the most prevalent form of child maltreatment (Sedlak et al 2010). Neglect includes physical neglect, emotional neglect, medical neglect and educational neglect. Although there may or may not be physical symptoms, neglect may be harder to identify right away. Neglect is often referred to as an act of omission as the parent or caregiver does not intentionally cause harm to the child, but the absence of care puts the child at risk of harm (Sedlak et al 2010). In 2007, the cost of child abuse and neglect was $103.8 billion, which includes immediate

David is a 10 years-old boy doing his homework at the kitchen table. The homework consisted of mathematical problems, a short reading and answer question, and memorizing the 50 Capitals of the United States. All the assignments for homework were due on Friday morning, so he quickly finished his homework so he could get to bed. Around 10:00 pm, David’s father came home from work, checked his son’s homework and saw many errors. He immediately went up to David’s bedroom and kicked open the door. Yelling at David, “You see this homework, you have many mistakes in math, your answers to your short readings are not correct and you did get all the 50 capitals right!!, you are worthless, stupid, and a big mistake of being born.” David’s father then proceeded to hit him with a wire hanger in both legs, and arms, the face and on his buttocks. David’s dad yelled again “Tomorrow morning when you get up, you will not eat breakfast and go to school hungry!!” David cried the rest of the night, hurting in pain, then eventually falling asleep.

Neglect has been described as the “most serious type of child maltreatment and the least understood” (Crittenden 1999: 67). It is the most common reason for inclusion on the child protection register in the UK. In the year ending 31st March 2006, 43 per cent of child protection registrations in England related to children considered to be at risk of neglect (Source: DfES, 2006)

Child neglect is a form of maltreatment. In other words, it is the failure of parents, guardians or caregivers to meet the child’s needs such as adequate supervision, clothes, shelter, food, health treatments, education and nurturing their emotional, physical, cognitive and mental development. In this paper, we will talk about early childhood neglect from ages birth to five years old, and the benefits of child welfare-supervised children 's participation in center-based Early Care and Education (ECE). Additionally, we will focus on an evidence-based intervention in which we will explore the program’s benefits and positive outcomes for the children that attend the program in contrast to the ones that do not. Moreover, we will identify the correct system of care and some of the programs within the tri-county area that might implement this intervention. Additionally, we will talk about the demographics of the children and setting of which intervention is best for them. Lastly, we will give an estimation of how many sessions are needed for the intervention to work, and what sorts of trainings might be necessary for the well-being of the child.

Growing up in the household under substances influence can cause severe damage to the child. Parental substance abuse has a significant impact on family function, and it may also contribute to child maltreatment. It heightens the risks to both of the physical and emotional safety of the children, and it generates children’s problematic outcomes. Children who grow up in such families may also experience mental health issues, social isolation, financial difficulties, and exposure to stressful life events and so on.

Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to: â—• provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment); â—• protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger; â—• ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care- givers); or â—• ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a childâ€TMs basic emotional

There is a combination of risk that contribute to Child Abused and Neglect. There are individual, relational, community, and societal factors, all of which are considered to be a risk for child abuse and neglect. Although children are not to blame for the harm inflicted upon them, there are certain characteristics researchers have found that increase their risk of being abused.

The exposure to substance abuse can occur in the early stages of childhood, according to research at least 10% of newborns are exposed to the abuse (Gruber & Taylor, 2006). Research shows that there is correlation between substance abuse and both child neglect and maltreatment (Mendoza, 2013). Not only does substance abuse dull the parent’s ability to adequately care for their child, but it can lead to problems such as violence, neglect, and physical abuse in the family home (Crosson-Tower, 2013). According to Crosson-Tower (2013) 12% of the children live with a parent or guardian who abuses drugs or alcohol. The issue of dependency on drugs and alcohol has continued to increase in adults, adolescents, and even children (Crosson-Tower, 2013).

Although the agency pushes for legal charges against adults who involve in child abuse, the agency usually goes beyond the charges. In ach and very case that is reported, the agency attempts to understand the underlying factors of the abuse. The agency has realized that parents who abused alcohol where for times more likely to abuse their children than the parents who did not abuse alcohol. In such cases, most instances of abuse occurred when the parents were intoxicated. Further, substance abuse has also been related to recurrence of child neglect and abuse. Studies have shown that parents who abuse substances are most likely to abuse their children continually that parents who do not abuse substances. In literature review, parents who are normal and who are not abusing any drugs of

The issue of child neglect is one of the most current forms of child maltreatment especially in the United States. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, child neglect is referred to as a kind of maltreatment which relates to the failure of a caregiver to offer the needed, age-appropriate care, despite the fact that the parent may be financially stable to do so (Conte 13). Neglect in many instances is described by an ongoing pattern that relates to lack of care and is observed by individuals in close contact with a child.

I believe that economic, lack of education, psychological issues, and drug abuse have all been, at one time or another, contributing factors in cases of child abuse and neglect. Statistics also support this.

I chose to summarize effects of substance abuse on children and their parents written by Crofton-Tower (2017). The name of the chapter is called the impact of violence and addiction on children. The author describes several effects that substance/addiction has on children and their parents. Crofton-Towers mentions how the usage of drugs and alcohol can weaken how parents take advise and parent their children (Crofton-Towers, 2017). She also indicates it can lead to parents sexually, physically plus mentally abusing their children.

An estimated twenty five percent of youth under eighteen are exposed to familial alcohol abuse (Bellum). The Illinois Department of Human Services says that nearly six hundred seventy five thousand children per year suffer serious abuse or neglect as a direct result of substance abuse (‘Children”). What makes this a big problem in society?

Although severe neglect isn't highly prevalent in today's society, it is still an important issue to be discussed. Without knowledge of the outcomes, there will be no motivation to intervene on the child's behalf.

This paper will focus on the consequences and risk factors of child abuse and neglect in first world countries such as North America and New Zealand. About 40 million children experience some kind of maltreatment around the world each year (Odhayani, A. A, Watson, & W.J, Waston, L, 2013). Although, any child is susceptible to child maltreatment children from low-income families and poor family structures such as living in a one-parent household are more prone to abuse. Abused children experience many mental health problems such as severe depression and anxiety. However, do these mental health issues express themselves to the same degree in different ethnicities?