02 Apr Neglect is Not a Bad Parent Problem
When talking about child abuse and neglect, it’s imperative to recognize that poverty is intertwined with many of the factors that increase a child’s risk for harm. In 2021, three quarters of reports to Child Protective Services included allegations of neglect: when the needs of a child are not met by their primary caregiver. Poverty and neglect are highly correlated, but a caregiver being unable to meet the needs of a child is not the same as them being unwilling. In 2024, over $11.4 million kids experienced poverty — that’s about 16% of all kids in the United States.
Families living in poverty experience higher stress levels and trauma, which can have lifelong impacts on kids including delayed cognitive development, worse mental health outcomes, and involvement in the criminal justice system.
The risk of child abuse and neglect is also increased or decreased by a number of factors at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels. Risk factors, including lack of access to resources, increase the likelihood of experiencing or perpetrating child abuse and neglect. Meanwhile protective factors, like stable housing and high-quality childcare, reduce the likelihood.
Keeping families out of crisis is the number one way to prevent child abuse and neglect. Taking a proactive approach is the best way to ensure successful outcomes for kids. Investing time, energy, and resources into bolstering protective factors at all levels will directly lower rates of child abuse and neglect.
You might be asking yourself, “What impact can I have on preventing child abuse and neglect?”
- Advocate for evidence-based policies and laws like child care subsidies, home visiting programs, and affordable housing. Click here to learn more about policies and bills that impact children and caregivers in our community.
- Get involved in your community by donating material goods like diapers, volunteering your time and talents, or spreading the word about local causes you care about.
- Donate to organizations that are working to support kids and families, like ReadyKids!
ReadyKids works to support kids and families at all levels:
- Individual: Through one-on-one counseling, home visiting for new parents, and support for early childhood educators.
- Relationship: Through mentorship for fathers, family counseling, and neighborhood playgroups.
- Community: Through community events, connecting families to local resources, and partnering with schools and other family-focused organizations
- Societal: Through meeting with local representatives to advocate for policies that support the well-being of kids and families, and funding for vital programs that fill the gaps for under resourced families.