Neglect

Neglect is the most common form of abuse seen and may have long-term effects. Neglect is failing to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision or medical care. Parents must provide adequate supervision, care, guidance and protection to keep children from physical or mental harm. Parents must also provide appropriate treatment for children's problems. Children will have minor injuries during childhood. When accidental injuries are frequent, they may be the result of neglect.

Neglect includes exposing a child to illegal activities, such as:

• Encouraging a child to participate in drug sales or theft

• Exposing a child to parental drug abuse

• Encouraging a child to use drugs or alcohol

Safe child care includes:

• A designated person who can take care of a child's individual needs

• A plan to reach the parent in an emergency

A child should not be left in a position of authority or be left alone in situations beyond his ability to handle. Each child must be looked at individually to make sure he or she is physically and emotionally able to handle the given responsibility. The law does not specify the age at which a child can be left alone. However, a child under 10 cannot be left unattended for such a period of time as may likely endanger their health or welfare (ORS 163.545).

• Medical neglect

  Children need adequate medical, dental or mental health care services. Medical neglect is when a parent or caregiver does not provide these. When a medical situation may result in serious impairment, pain or death of the child, CPS can intervene. Religious beliefs about spiritual care are generally honored, except when the child's life is in danger. If a parent refuses medical attention in a serious or life-threatening situation, CPS may intervene.

• Failure to thrive

  Failure to thrive is a syndrome characterized by chronic malnutrition of an infant or young child. Growth is delayed. Mental retardation, learning difficulties and delay in language skills are some of the long-term consequences. Characteristics include:

  • A weak, pale, and listless appearance; loss of body fat.

  • Staring vacantly, instead of smiling and maintaining eye contact.

  • Sleeping in a curled up, fetal position with fists tightly closed.

  • Rocking back and forth in bed as he lies on his back or banging his head repeatedly against his crib.

  • Obvious delays in developmental and motor function.

   

   

• Abandonment

  Abandonment is parental behavior showing an intent to permanently give up all rights and claims to a child.

• Mental injury

  Mental injury includes:

   

  • Rejecting, abandoning or extensive ridiculing of a child.

  • Terrorizing a child by threatening extreme punishment against him or his pets or        possessions.

  • Ignoring a child over time by refusing to talk to or show interest in her daily activities. This must be so extreme there is no traditional parent-child relationship between the two.

  • Isolating a child by teaching him to avoid social contact beyond the parent-child relationship.

  • Corrupting a child by teaching inappropriate behavior in areas such as aggression, sexuality or substance abuse.

  • Exposing a child to violence.

   

  Mental injury/psychological maltreatment is the result of cruel or unconscionable acts and/or statements made, threatened to be made or permitted to be made by the caregiver(s) which have a direct effect on the child; or caregiver’s failure to provide nurturance, protection or appropriate guidance. The caregiver’s behavior, intentional or unintentional, must be related to the observable and substantial impairment of the child’s psychological, cognitive, emotional and/or social well being and functioning.

• Threat of harm

  Threat of harm is subjecting a child to a substantial risk of harm to the child’s health or welfare. Substantial harm is defined as immobilizing impairment, life-threatening damage, or significant or acute injury to a child’s physical, sexual, psychological, or mental development and/or functioning. Some examples of this type of abuse are:

   

  • A child living with or cared for by a person who has been convicted of child abuse or neglect of any child in the past.

  • A child born to or coming to live with any person who has a child currently out of their home as a result of child abuse or neglect.

  • A newborn whose primary caregiver appears to lack the skills necessary to provide adequate care even though the child has not suffered harm.

  • A child living with a person who is involved in child pornography.

  • Caregiver behavior which is out of control and threatening to a child’s safety; e.g., driving while intoxicated with children in the car or a caregiver who is not taking prescribed medication. May also be due to drug or alcohol abuse; or a mental, emotional, or physical problem.

   

• Domestic Violence

  Domestic violence is a pattern of assaultive and/or coercive behaviors including physical, sexual and emotional abuses, as well as economic coercion that adults use against their intimate partners to gain power and control in that relationship. Domestic violence is present in all cultures, socioeconomic classes, communities of faith, etc. The presence of domestic violence is a risk for children. However, not all situation of domestic violence require a report to DHS or law enforcement.

  DHS has the authority to intervene with families based on whether a child is being physically abused, sexually abused, neglected, suffering mental injury or is being subjected to an activity or condition likely to result in substantial harm. If you know a child is witnessing repeated or serious domestic violence and you are unsure of the impact on the child, call and consult a CPS screener.

   

• Child selling

  Child selling includes buying, selling, or trading for legal or physical custody of a child. It does not apply to legitimate adoptions or domestic relations planning.