The definitions of neglect include physical neglect, child abandonment and expulsion, medical neglect,
inadequate supervision, emotional neglect and educational neglect by parents, parent substitutes,
and other adult caretakers of children.

* Is frequently absent from school.
* Begs or steals food or money.
* Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses.
* Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor.
* Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather.
* Abuses alcohol or other drugs.
* States that there is no one at home to provide care.
* Refusal of Health Care
* Failure to provide or allow needed care in accord with recommendations of a competent health care professional for a physical injury, illness, medical condition, or impairment.
*Delay in Health Care or failure to seek timely and appropriate medical care for a serious health problem
* Abandonment or Desertion of a child without arranging for reasonable care and supervision…
*  Expulsion or blatant refusals of custody, such as permanent or indefinite expulsion
of a child from the home without adequate arrangement for care by others, or refusal to accept custody of a returned runaway.

Custody-related forms of inattention to the child’s needs other than those covered by abandonment or expulsion.
For example, repeated shuttling of a child from one household to another due to apparent unwillingness to maintain custody, or chronically and repeatedly leaving a child with others for days/weeks at a time.

Conspicuous inattention to avoidable hazards in the home
Inadequate nutrition, clothing, or hygiene
Any other forms of reckless disregard of the child’s safety and welfare…
such as driving with the child while intoxicated or leaving a child unattended.

• dirty skin
• offensive body odor
• unwashed, uncombed hair
• tattered, under or oversized and unclean clothing
• dressed in clothing that is inappropriate to weather or situation
• frequently left unsupervised or alone for periods of time

(Note: This is the most frequent cause of child death and should not be minimized)

SIGNS OF POOR HEALTH:

• puffiness under the eyes
• easily fatigued; tired
• frequent untreated upper respiratory infections
• itching, scratching, long existing skin eruptions
• frequent diarrhea
• bruises, lacerations or cuts that are infected
• untreated illnesses
• physical complaints not responded to by parent

SIGNS OF MALNUTRITION:

• begging for or stealing food
• frequently hungry
• rummaging through garbage pails for food
• gorging self, eating in large gulps
• hoarding food
• obesity

SIGNS IN INFANTS:

• listlessness
• poor responsiveness
• does not often smile, cry, laugh, play, relate to others
• lacks interest, curiosity
• rocks, bangs head, sucks hair, thumb, finger,
• tears at body
• is overly self-stimulating, self-comforting
• does not turn to parent for help or comfort
• hospitalization for failure to thrive – regresses upon return to home
• unduly over or under active for no apparent purpose

SIGNS IN CHILDREN:

• cries easily when hurt even slightly
• comes to school without breakfast
• has no lunch or lunch money
• needs dental care, glasses
• falls asleep in class
• often seems in a fog or dream world
• comes to school early, does not want to go home
• sees self as failure
• troublesome at school
• does no homework, refuses to try
• destroys completed written work
• destroys books, assignments and learning aids or toys
• is withdrawn, overactive, underactive and/or lethargic (depressed)
• is cruel to classmates
• lies, steals from classmates, school
• breaks objects or damages school property
• frequently absent or late for school.

PARENTAL INDICATORS

• promises but does not follow up on recommendations
• fails to keep appointments and/or refuses help from school or other resources
• abuses alcohol or other drugs
• lifestyle of relative isolation from relatives, friends
• history of abuse or neglect as a child
• disorganized, chaotic home life
• history of chronic illness
• gives impression of resignation and feeling that nothing makes much difference anyway failure to provide supervision of children