The National Resource Center on Child Abuse and Neglect Data System report defines neglect as “a type of maltreatment” that refers to the failure to provide needed, age-appropriate care. Professionals have defined four types of neglect including physical, emotional, educational and medical neglect.

Physical Neglect:

• Extreme delay in seeking necessary health care
• Child abandonment, inadequate supervision
• Rejection of child leading to expulsion from the home
• Failure to adequately provide for the child’s safety

Educational Neglect:

• When a child is allowed to engage in chronic truancy
• Not enrolled in school or receiving school training
• Not receiving needed special educational training

Emotional Neglect:

• Chronic or extreme spousal abuse in child’s presence
• Allowing a child to use drugs or alcohol
• Refusal or failure to provide needed psychological care
• Constant belittling and withholding affection

Medical Neglect:

• Failure to provide appropriate health care for a child

Types of Child Abuse: