Neglect

Child neglect is the most frequent type of abuse of children. Neglect is the failure of a parent, guardian, or other caregiver to provide for a child’s basic needs. Neglect may be:

• Physical (failure to provide necessary food or shelter, or lack of appropriate supervision)
• Medical (failure to provide necessary medical treatment or medicine)
• Educational (failure to educate a child or attend to special education needs)
• Emotional (inattention to a child’s emotional needs, failure to provide psychological care, or permitting the child to use alcohol or other drugs)