There is a strong association between the poverty level of families and the neglect of children, including chronic neglect. The author reports on six projects designed to reduce the level and extent of chronic neglect of children in their geographic areas. Within the population of families in poverty who are reported for neglect, certain stances and strategies, including family empowerment, the use of groups to develop social support networks, and the assistance of volunteers or paraprofessionals as home visitors or parent aides, appear to be beneficial.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Humane Association. (1985). Highlights of official child abuse and neglect reporting, 1985.Denver, CO: Author.
2.
BrownL. (1987). Seeking a national consensus. Public Welfare, 45(1), 12–17.
CorbettT. (1993). Child poverty and welfare reform: Progress or paralysis?Madison, WI: Institute for Research on Poverty.
5.
DiLeonardiJ., & JohnsonP. (1993). Evaluation of the Chronic Neglect Consortium: Final report.Chicago: Children's Home and Aid Society of Illinois.
6.
EgelandB. (1987). The consequences of physical and emotional neglect on the development of young children. Child neglect monograph: Proceedings from a symposium, November 1985.Washington, DC: Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information.
7.
EgelandB., & StroufeL. A. (1981). Attachment and early maltreatment. Child Development, 52, 44–52.
8.
EgelandB.StroufeL. A., & EricksonM. F. (1983). Developmental consequences of different patterns of maltreatment. Child Abuse and Neglect, 7, 459–469.
9.
GiovannoniJ., & BillingsleyA. (1970). Child neglect among the poor: A study of parental adequacy in families of three ethnic groups. Child Welfare, 49, 199.
10.
PolanskyN.ChalmersM. A.ButtenweiserE., & WilliamsD. (1978). Assessing adequacy of child caring: An urban scale. Child Welfare, 57, 439–499.
11.
PolanskyN., & GaudinJ.Jr. (1983). Social distancing of the neglectful family. Social Service Review, 57, 196–208.
12.
PolanskyN.GaudinJ. M.Jr.AmmonsP., & DavisK. (1985). The psychological ecology of the neglectful mother. Child Abuse and Neglect, 9, 265–275.
13.
State of Alaska, Division of Family and Youth Services. (1987). Family abuse/neglect assessment, an empirically derived instrument developed in conjunction with the National Council for Crime and Delinquency.Juneau, AK: Author.
14.
Videka-ShermanL. (1987). Intervention for child neglect: The empirical knowledge base. Child neglect monograph: Proceedings of a symposium in Chicago, November 1985.Washington, DC: Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information.
