Child Welfare Professionals’ Determination of When Certain Unsafe Activities and Lack of Child Protection Constitutes Child Neglect

Purpose: Although laws provide guidelines for the evaluation of possible child abuse and neglect cases, the language and substance of child safety laws and guidelines varies greatly among states. The objective of this study was to identify factors that influence the determination of child neglect by child welfare experts, and develop some consensus regarding what constitutes child neglect with respect to child safety issues. Methods: A survey was developed and distributed to members of the American Academy of …