Poverty vs. Child Neglect

In 2022, child neglect was the number one reason children entered the foster care system, at 62%. As advocates, social workers, mandated reporters, and supports for children, we must have the tools in our toolbox to differentiate child neglect from a child experiencing poverty. This training will discuss the statistical context of the impact systems can have on families experiencing poverty, legal differences between poverty and child neglect, strategies to differentiate child neglect and poverty, as well as how we can offer additional support to families experiencing poverty.