Includes bibliographical references (p. 165-175) and index.

Defining and understanding the problem -- Definitions : arguments and limitations -- 'Thresholds' -- Wider factors -- Neglectful families : the general context -- Poverty -- Wider family and community support -- Social exclusion -- Ethnic and cultural factors -- Parents -- Issues affecting understanding -- What do we know about the characteristics of these parents? -- The responses of mothers to young children -- Typologies of neglectful parents -- Gender -- Substance abuse, depression, and learning disability -- Drug abuse -- Alcoholism -- Maternal depression -- Parents with learning disabilities -- Physical health of parents -- Children who are seriously neglected -- The foundation for healthy development -- The effects of serious and chronic neglect -- Infants and young children -- School-age children and young people -- Delinquency and antisocial behaviour -- The concept of resilience -- Attachment -- Disorganised neglect -- Depressed, passive and physical neglect -- Social work with neglected children -- Working together in cases of neglect; unresolved problems and current issues -- The current situation -- Issues and difficulties in relation to neglect -- The split between welfare and justice systems -- Neglected children and the family courts -- Multidisciplinary work; adult and children's services -- The role of the school -- Intra-agency work; continuing difficulties in integrating health care -- So what is to be done? -- Improving parenting capacity; the prognosis -- 'The big decision' -- Modes of intervention -- Help for parents 'as people' -- The wider family -- The neighbourhood and wider community -- The concept of 'shared care' -- The continuum of complementary care.