Which statement about child neglect statutes is accurate?

• A. Abandonment of a child is included in the statutes
• B. Only physical abuse is addressed
• C. Maltreatment does not include neglect
• D. Nothing is included

Answer: (A)

Child neglect statutes are written to cover a broad range of mistreatment, not just physical harm. They define maltreatment to include neglect and abandonment as ways a caregiver can fail a child’s welfare. Abandonment, specifically, is treated as neglect because leaving a child without adequate supervision, care, or guardianship endangers the child’s well-being. That’s why the statement that abandonment is included is accurate.

This broad approach means the other ideas don’t fit: statutes don’t address only physical abuse, nor do they say maltreatment excludes neglect, and they certainly aren’t limited to nothing being included.