Examines the growing number of child neglect cases in the United States in the context of the relative absence of theory and research on this subject. Child neglect can be described as a pattern of behavior that has a hole in the middle of it where a child’s basic developmental needs – biological, psychological, social, and cultural – should be met. Neglect can occur because of stress within the family; because the family is isolated from supportive links such as school; or because external factors impinge upon the family’s well-being, such as a company’s downsizing which leaves the family without health insurance. Although different standards of what is important in child development make it difficult to reach a universal definition of neglect, further research can approach a consensus. Social service agencies need the resources to identify and help at-risk families, especially those isolated from the community: a parent cannot be psychologically available for his or her child, if the parent is not receiving the psychological and social support he or she needs. Moreover, welfare reform in the United States may have the unintended effect of increasing the number of neglected children, thus revealing a hole in society’s core. (43 references)
