NCJ Number
130558
Journal
Protecting Children Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1990-1991) Pages: 3-5
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
There is overwhelming evidence of a strong relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect. Fully 82 percent of child abuse victims were from families with incomes below $15,000 in comparison with 45 percent of all American children in the year 1979, according to the Westat National Incidence Study.
Abstract
The question arises, however, as to how frequently child abuse and neglect are confused with the conditions and circumstances arising directly from poverty itself and from lack of resources in a system geared toward finding child abuse and neglect or parental culpability. The conditions of poverty, such as health and safety hazards in the home and neighborhood, may cause direct danger to children, and the parents may be blamed for not sufficiently guarding their children from such conditions. Yet the system offers the parents few resources to aid in such protection. To reduce harm to children and improve the welfare of families, the public child welfare agency should address emerging recognition that the problems of social stress, poverty, homelessness, inadequate housing, and lack of social supports contribute to harm to children. Society's options of a police-type responses, and of removal of some children to foster care, while necessary, are inadequate and not enough. 7 references