Poverty, Neglect and Abuse and Foster Care

Poverty and Neglect and Abuse

Most people living in poverty do not abuse or neglect their children. Poverty is just one predictive factor that can increase the likelihood that children may be abused or neglected. However, there is evidence connecting child abuse and neglect to poverty. The combination of lack of resources or infrequent employment and other risk factors, such as parent characteristics of low parental warmth, use of physical discipline, and allowing children to frequently watch television are predictive of child neglect.[55]

Compared to children in families with annual incomes above $30,000, children from families with annual incomes below $15,000 were:[56]

• More than 22 times more likely to be harmed by child abuse and neglect

• More than 44 times more likely to be neglected

• Over 22 times more likely to be seriously injured

• 60 times more likely to die from maltreatment under the Harm Standard

For facts about Low-income Children, Birth to 18, click here.

Foster Care

When children are placed into the foster care system, they are typically removed from their families because of neglect (such as not providing enough food for a child or leaving a child who is unable to care for herself alone) and/or physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

Children in foster care require a greater amount of care and support to reach their full developmental potential. Fifty percent of children in foster care show developmental delays (4-5 times the rate of delay in the general population) and have more compromised developmental outcomes than children who do not experience placement in foster care.[57] “Children living in foster care have 3 to 7 times as many physical and mental problems and developmental delays as children living in other situations.”[58]

These outcomes are also significantly impacted by the rupture between the parent/caregiver and the child. The infant or child experiences high stress due to the separation from familiar patterns and sources of care. This traumatic experience for infants and children occurs even with abusive parent/caregivers, parent/caregivers as well as those who are very caring but not able to provide adequate care and safety, and those who need more instruction on how to effectively parent.

The attachment between the parent/caregiver and child is so important; parent/caregivers who have their children in foster care system should be given effective parenting skills and support. They should also be in constant communication with their children in order to maintain their bond and to minimize stress to the infant.

<<Back to Page 14 Page 15 Continue to Page 16>>