NCJ Number
139157
Date Published
1991
Length
345 pages
Annotation
Evidence is presented to show that American children, both rich and poor, are the victims of a level of public and private neglect that is unique among developed nations.
Abstract
The book documents America's inequitable system of allocating its resources and a parenting deficit that is promoted by growing divorce rates and an often involuntary increase in the hours parents work. The United States spends nine times as much on its elderly population as on its children and twice as much on military pensions as on Aid to Families with Dependent Children. A multifaceted action plan is proposed that includes parenting leave and child care policy, tax reform, and volunteer efforts. The book describes some innovative and cost-effective support policies implemented in the private sector. True stories, often told from a child's perspective, illustrate the pervasive neglect. 627 footnotes