Neglect In The Nation Essay Research Paper

Neglect in the Nation

The neglect of children is a serious problem in California as well as in the nation and we

the people, should not embrace what is happening in this state. Based on the information I have

acquired; I will show that neglect, though not physical, can seriously damage a child’s

well-being. When a child is neglected there is often a irrational motive on the parent(s) part.

People may not think there is but there actually is a considerable figure of children being

neglected. As I have stated, neglect is a menacing problem in society and if we do not disrupt

the course in which we are headed, neglect now as we know it will be nothing compared to what

the future holds.

When a child is neglected, that neglect can cause a significant amount of damage to the

child’s welfare. Neglect is defined as,” the failure to provide for a child’s physical survival needs

to the extent that there is harm or risk of harm to the child’s health or safety”. This may include,

but is not limited to: abandonment; lack of supervision; life endangering physical hygiene; lack

of adequate nutrition that places the child below the normal growth curve; lack of shelter; or

lack of medical or dental care that results in health threatening conditions. When neglect is

reported, the child has to process through many hearings and may even be placed with new

parents or the child might be placed into foster care. In light of preceding facts, I myself would

not want my own children to endure this misfortune.

Chronic neglect cases usually involve families that are significantly disadvantaged,

having a multitude of problems to deal with. These often include parental substance abuse

and an area noted for substance abuse problems. Parents preoccupied by substance

abuse may neglect or emotionally abuse their children. A child’s physical needs might be

neglected by the parents’ inability to provide proper nourishment, to attend to medical needs,

or to provide a suitable living environment. The parents may ignore the child, which may result

in inappropriate supervision and a failure to ensure the child’s safety. Parental absence

has also been associated with sexual abuse. Neglect doesn’t always mean that the parent(s)

Intentionally puts their children in harms way.

A child of any age, sex, race, religion, and socioeconomic background can fall victim to

neglect. Over the past 20 years the complex problems of neglect has increased dramatically. In

total, there were about 296,000 reports of child abuse/neglect in 1985, compared to about

664,000 in 1994. This represents a 124 percent increase over the period, or an average annual

rate of almost 10 percent. In 1993, California had the highest rate of reported abuse/neglect

among the ten largest states 76 per 1,000 children. In 1994, 1271 child abuse and neglect related

fatalities were reported. Put another way, this was 3.5 deaths per day in the U.S., or one death

every 7 hours. 88% of those fatalities were under 5 years of age, 46% were under one year of

age. According to information from 34 states representing 67.3% of the U.S. population under

the age of 18, an estimated 1,215 child maltreatment deaths were confirmed by child protective

service agencies in 1995. All the information shown above is factual. When neglect goes to far

it doesn’t matter what race a child is, all that matters is that child is just another statistic.

In conclusion, from reading my paper, people should have learned that neglect is

something that should not be taken lightly. When a child is neglected their life is at stake.

Parents who neglect their children may not do it voluntarily. The abuse could be some kind of

illness so don’t jump to conclusions. Children of any race or religion can be neglected.

Neglected children is on the increase. People who are being neglected or neglecting someone,

need to get help. Stop it before it gets too late.

Works Cited

English, Diana J. “PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT”. THE

FUTURE OF CHILDREN JOURNAL. VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1 -(SPRING 1998) .

ONLINE. AOL. 23 May. 2000. Available: http://www.futureofchildren.org

“Physical Neglect”. WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT?. N.F.A.N.C. P.O. Box 608134

Chicago, Illinois 60660. (1992). Online. AOL. 23 May. 2000. Available:

Http://www.gangfreekids.org/childAbuse.html

“NUMBER OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTS NATIONWIDE”. Definition of

Child Abuse & Neglect. (February 28, 2000). Online. AOL. 23 May 2000. Available:

Http://www.sickkids.on.ca/scan/AbuseDef.asp.