Physical Neglect is the negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by a parent or caretaker under circumstances indicating harm or threatened harm to the child's health or welfare.

Severe Neglect is the negligent failure of a parent or caretaker to protect the child from severe malnutrition or medically diagnosed nonorganic failure to thrive. It also means those situations of neglect where the parent or caretaker willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation wuch that his or her person or health is endangered. This includes the intentional failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care.

General Neglect means the negligent failure of a parent or caretaker to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision where no physical injury to the child has occurred. Leaving young children without supervision constitutes general neglect.

Indicators Of Neglect

While some of these conditions may exist in any home environment, it is the extreme or persistent presence of these factors that indicate some degree of neglect.
Neglect may be suspected if any of the following conditions exist...
*The child is lacking adequate medical or dental care.
*The child is often sleepy or hungry.
*The child is often dirty, demonstrates poor personal hygiene, or is inadequately dressed for weather conditions.
*The child is depressed, withdrawn or apathetic, exhibits antisocial or destructive behavior, shows exaggerated fearfulness; or suffers from substance abuse, or speech, eating, or habit disorders (biting, rocking, whining).
*There is evidence of poor supervision (repeated falls down stairs; repeated ingestions of harmful substances; a child cared for by another child); the child is left alone in the home, or unsupervised under any circumstances.
*The conditions in the home are unsanitary; the home lacks heating or plumbing; there are fire hazards or other unsafe home conditions; the sleeping arrangements are cold, dirty, or otherwise inadequate.
*The nutritional quality of food in the home is poor; meals are not prepared; refrigerator or cupboards contain spoiled.