Chronic Child Neglect

Chronic neglect of children is one of the most persistent and intractable challenges facing the nation’s child welfare system. The term “chronic neglect” refers to an enduring pattern in which a child’s basic physical, developmental and/or socio-emotional needs are repeatedly unmet by the child’s parent or caregiver. Research indicates that chronic neglect is manifested in different ways (e.g., physical, emotional, medical, educational) at different times; that is, children experience various omissions of their basic needs over an extended period of time. Research and day-to-day child welfare practice suggest that traditional short-term or incident-based services are not effective interventions for these families. Moreover, there is limited focus on prevention for the children and caregivers impacted by chronic neglect. Yet children who are repeatedly deprived of fundamental needs can experience serious consequences, including delays in neurobiological development, physical and mental illness, cognitive and educational deficiencies, and socio-emotional and behavioral challenges.

National Initiative On Chronic Neglect

In November 2007, American Humane announced the launch of its National Initiative on Chronic Neglect to bring together practitioners, policymakers, researchers and other interested individuals who will help build our knowledge and strengthen our capacity to help the children and families impacted by chronic neglect. Throughout 2008, through joint presentations, meetings and exchanges of information, American Humane cultivated partnerships with other entities, including public child welfare agencies that have an interest in chronic neglect.

Protecting Children Volume On Chronic Neglect

Shining Light on Chronic Neglect: Core Issues Facing our Most Vulnerable Families

Protecting Children, Vol. 24, Number 1, 2009

This volume of Protecting Children is dedicated to the topic of chronic neglect and is a major product of American Humane’s Chronic Neglect Initiative. The authors explore issues such as organizations’ capacity to adequately respond to chronic neglect and describe evaluative outcomes of innovative approaches to helping families overcome chronic neglect.

View sample articles:

• Introduction: Shining Light on Chronic Neglect
  by Caren Kaplan, Patricia Schene, Diane DePanfilis and Debra Gilmore
• Chronic Neglect Practice with St. Louis Families
  by Frances A. Johnson

Purchase the full volume today!

Chronic Neglect Virtual Series

In late September 2009, American Humane launched its pilot Chronic Neglect Virtual Series in partnership with the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators. More than 150 people from 34 teams are participating in this virtual community center and online conference.  The series is designed to help advance practices and policies on chronic child neglect through stimulating online dialogue with peers, a network of support and learning, and strategic solution-building.  American Humane will synthesize this valuable information, add it to our chronic neglect knowledge base, and post updates to this web page.  Please check back for updates!

Research Meeting

In January 2009, American Humane’s Chronic Neglect Initiative and Child Protection Research Center jointly hosted a Chronic Neglect Research Meeting. Prominent child welfare and systems-of-care researchers from across the country attended and discussed such research topics as chronic neglect definition, assessment, primary and secondary prevention and interventions, interagency sharing and systems of care, and moving research into practice. At the meeting’s conclusion, the participants identified chronic neglect research needs. Click on the links to the right to see a synthesis of the meeting and copies of researchers’ presentations.