Recommended reading

Neglect is a serious form of child maltreatment that is at least as damaging as physical or sexual abuse in the long-term (Gilbert, Spatz Widom, et al., 2009). As an act/acts of omission, neglect is however less tangible and harder to define.
Failing to meet children’s needs can set in motion a cascade of negative impacts which result in reduced quality of life, severe mental and physical illness and in some cases premature death. Despite the seriousness of neglect, it has received
less attention and there is “an observable societal phenomenon of neglect of neglect” (McSherry, 2007).
This report has been commission ed to document the nature and consequences of child neglect; describe the prevalence of neglect in New Zealand; summarises government agencies’ responses to neglect; compare current responses to a best-practice response; and formulate recommendations for strengthening the prevention of recurrent neglect in New Zealand.
The report focuses on interventions to prevent the recurrence of neglect. It makes
brief reference only to interventions to prevent the occurrence of neglect or interventions to prevent long-term impairment from neglect. The report also focuses on responses made by key government agencies and does not consider interventions by other organisations, family and whānau, friends or the public. A total of 70 published reviews of child neglect informed chapter two. This chapter summarises the nature, causes and consequences of child neglect, and preventive interventions. Child, Youth and Family provided data to inform the description of child neglect in chapter three as epidemiological information is not available in New Zealand. The summary of current responses to neglect is informed by relevant legislation, analysis of Child, Youth and Family, Police, health and education policies, and stakeholder interviews with professionals from each of these sectors. (Executive summary, p.viii).