Children’
s Bur
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https://www.childwelfare.gov3
human trafcking, including labor trafcking,
involuntary servitude, or trafcking of minors,
is included in the denition of child abuse.
6
Nine States include female genital mutilation
in the denitions of physical abuse.
7
NEGLECT
Neglect is frequently dened as the failure of
a parent or other person with responsibility
for the child to provide needed food, clothing,
shelter, medical care, or supervision to
the degree that the child's health, safety,
and well-being are threatened with harm.
8
Approximately 27 States, the District of
Columbia, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and
the Virgin Islands include failure to educate
the child as required by law in their denition
of neglect.
9
Twelve States specically dene
medical neglect as failing to provide any
special medical treatment or mental health
care needed by the child.
10
In addition,
eight States dene medical neglect as the
withholding of medical treatment or nutrition
from disabled children with life-threatening
conditions.
11
In 38 States, the District of Columbia,
American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana
Islands, and Puerto Rico, a child can be
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
6
Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia
7
Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Wyoming
8
For a further discussion about what constitutes child neglect, see Child Welfare Information Gateway's Acts of Omission: An
Overview of Child Neglect.
9
The States that dene "failure to educate" as neglect include Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia,
Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
10
Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and West
Virginia
11
Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, and Rhode Island
12
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New
York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,
Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming
13
Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah
considered neglected when their parent
or caregiver fails to provide adequate
supervision that is appropriate for a child
after considering such factors as the child's
age, mental ability, physical condition, the
length of the caregiver's absence, and the
context of the child's environment.
12
In four
States, neglect does not include allowing the
child to engage in independent activities that
are appropriate and typical for the child's level
of maturity, physical condition, developmental
abilities, or culture.
13
Those activities can
include any of the following:
Traveling to and from school, including
walking, running, bicycling, or other similar
mode of travel
Traveling to and from nearby commercial or
recreational facilities
Engaging in outdoor play
Remaining at home unattended for a
reasonable amount of time
Remaining in a vehicle if the temperature
inside the vehicle is not or will not become
dangerously hot or cold
Engaging in a similar independent activity