Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 66
66
Acknowledged
Integrate neglect reduction measures and parental support into Child Poverty Strategy with a broader approach.
Conclusion
The Department should ensure that measures to reduce neglect and support parents with poor mental health and drug and alcohol addictions are considered as part of its Child Poverty Strategy and recognise that poverty is not the only circumstance in which neglect takes place and take a broader approach to tackling neglect. (Recommendation, Paragraph 162)
Government Response Summary
The government recognises the link between deprivation and neglect and states the Child Poverty Taskforce is considering parents across the UK in its child poverty strategy. It also highlights existing support through the Families First Partnership Programme and the Healthy Child programme.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We recognise that deprivation is a contributory causal factor in child abuse and neglect, and a growing body of research is strengthening the evidence of this relationship, including poverty being closely interconnected with wider factors associated with child abuse and neglect, such as poor parental mental health and domestic abuse. In developing a child poverty strategy, the Child Poverty Taskforce is considering parents across the United Kingdom. We recognise the distinct challenges of poverty faced by parents with poor mental health and drug and alcohol addictions. We are working through the Families First Partnership Programme to give families and children access to better local support services, breaking the cycle of late intervention and helping more children and families to stay safely together. In addition, the Healthy Child programme provides support for parents and children including perinatal mental health parent-infant relationships and parenting behaviours across all local authority areas.