Citation

Wolfe DA. Crim. Justice Behav. 1993; 20(1): 90-111.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0093854893020001007

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Research studies conducted over the past decade involving maltreating families largely confirm that the vast majority of parents lack competence in their role because of inadequate availability of resources, poor preparation and support in their role as parents, and impairment in coping due to overwhelming sources of stress present in the family and community. This article presents an overview of some of the risk factors that have been identified and that especially pertain to child neglect. Suggestions of ways to conceptualize prevention goals follow from these identified risk factors. Examples of some of the more promising programs that have emerged in recent years, based on a family support model of prevention and early intervention, are discussed. Recent programs directed at prevention of child neglect have primarily built on successful treatment approaches and applied them to a much broader segment of the parenting population at an earlier point in time. Several conclusions and suggestions for prevention planning in the area of child maltreatment follow from this discussion.

Language: en