What does abuse, abandonment and neglect mean?
“Abuse” means any willful or threatened act that results in any physical, mental or sexual injury or harm that causes or is likely to cause the child’s physical, mental or emotional health to be significantly impaired. “Abandonment” means a parent or person responsible for taking care of the child, although able to do so, does not provide for the child’s care and support and makes no effort to communicate with the child. “Neglect” means that a child does not receive sufficient food, shelter, clothing or medical treatment or that a child is permitted to live in an environment when such deprivation or environment causes the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health to be significantly impaired or to be in danger of being significantly impaired.
