Which statement best defines child maltreatment?

• A. An intentional act or a failure to act that causes harm or the risk of harm to a child
• B. Only physical injury to a child
• C. A child who misbehaves
• D. A non-guardian caregiver’s conduct

Answer: (A)

Maltreatment means harm or risk of harm to a child caused by someone who has responsibility for the child’s welfare, through either actions or a failure to act. This definition goes beyond physical injury to include neglect and other harms that threaten a child’s safety and well-being, as well as situations where harm could occur even if no injury has yet happened. The best option captures this breadth by describing an act or a failure to act by a caregiver that causes or risks harm to the child. It isn’t limited to physical injury, it isn’t about the child’s misbehavior, and it isn’t confined to conduct by someone who isn’t a guardian; the focus is on the responsible person whose actions or inactions endanger the child.