Neglect occurs when a child is at risk of or has been harmed as a result of the parent/guardian/ caregiver failure to adequately supervise, protect, care for or provide for a child. Neglect also occurs when a child has a medical, mental, emotional or developmental condition that requires services or treatment and the person having charge of the child does not provide these services or treatment.

Note:  Most parent and caregivers do not intend to neglect their children. Instead, neglect is usually the result of ignorance about parenting and an inability to plan ahead. When a caregiver fails to provide a child’s basic needs like food, sleep, safety, supervision, appropriate clothing or medical treatment on a consistent basis, this is neglect.

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In addition to the above forms of abuse and neglect, there are other forms of abuse which may be overlooked. These include abandonment/separation, caregiver incapacity, and domestic violence. It is important to consider these in addition to forms of abuse and neglect.

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Abandonment/separation occurs when a child has been left alone unsupervised, or when a parent or guardian is unavailable to exercise his or her custodial rights over a child and has not made adequate provision for a child’s care and custody. It also occurs when a child is in residential placement and the parent refuses, or is unable or unwilling, to resume the child’s care and custody.

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Caregiver incapacity is when a caregiver demonstrates, or has demonstrated in the past, characteristics that indicate the child would be at risk of harm without intervention. These characteristics can include a history of abusing/neglecting a child, being unable to protect a child from harm, problems such as drug or alcohol abuse, mental health issues or limited caregiving skills. Note this means that no harm has come to a child as of yet and no evidence is apparent that a child may be in need of intervention but that there may be need in the future.

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The signs and indicators of abuse and neglect may include but are not limited to those that follow:

It is important to realize that the presence of any one indicator is not conclusive proof that a child has been neglected.

In most instances, neglected children will exhibit a number of behavioural and physical indicators.

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Physical indicators in children

• Poor hygiene

• Unattended physical problems or medical needs such as dental work or glasses

• consistent lack of supervision

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Behavioural indicators in children

• Pale, listless (appears to have little energy), unkempt

• Frequent absences from school

• Inappropriate clothing for the weather, dirty clothes

• Frequently forgets a lunch

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