Which best describes child neglect according to the definition provided?

• A. The failure, refusal, or inability for reasons other than poverty to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical/dental care, and shelter
• B. Only lack of food
• C. Intentional physical harm
• D. Verbal abuse alone

Answer: (A)

Neglect means a caregiver fails, refuses, or is unable to provide a child’s basic needs when they have the means to do so, and it isn’t due to poverty. The definition specifically includes essential areas like care, food, clothing, medical/dental care, and shelter, framing neglect as a pattern of not meeting those necessities for the child’s safety and well-being. The other options do not fit because they describe only a single need (food), or describe different harms (intentional physical harm or verbal abuse), which fall outside the neglect definition given.