UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, a part of Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute, will host “Disentangling Neglect from Poverty Across Definitions, Outcomes, Interventions, and Policy Recommendations” on April 22, 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. via Zoom.

The majority of referrals received by child protective services (CPS) agencies include allegations of child neglect, but statutory definitions of neglect encompass a broad range of circumstances, including children going without adequate food, shelter, or medical care. As such, there are growing concerns that CPS inadvertently — and possibly unfairly or harmfully — investigates and intervenes on the sole basis of poverty.

This event, consisting of four sessions, is designed to bring together experts in child protection to present evidence on these topics, with a focus on essential information for CPS agencies, family courts, guardians ad litem and child advocates, as well as policymakers.

The first session, “Neglect Defined,” will be chaired by Sarah Font, associate professor of sociology and criminology at Penn State and SSRI cofunded faculty member. The following three sessions will include “Consequences of Neglect,” “Neglect Prevention/Intervention,” and “Recommendations for next steps,” respectively.

The conference will feature expert speakers from Washington University, St. Louis; University of Rochester; University of Maryland; University of Kentucky; Georgia State University; University of Southern California; University of Colorado; and New York University.

Pre-registration is required for this event and can be done by filling out this form. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation and a Zoom link.