In the United States, child abuse is extremely looked down upon. Many people believe that children are incapable of caring for themselves and, as such, it is a moral responsibility for adults to care for them. Unfortunately, this sense of moral obligation does not protect children from abuse. Child maltreatment is a term that encompasses both the abuse and neglect of children. Child neglect accounts for 49% of all reported maltreatment cases and is the most common form of child maltreatment (McCoy & Keen, 2009, p. 77). Negligence leads to both short- and long-term harmful effects. Until recently, malpractice treatment was minimally effective; however, with advances in technology and research, a new treatment model has emerged. The Neurosequential Model of Therapy (NMT) is a holistic intervention that appears to combat the long-term effects of physical neglect, providing hope to those who were abused in early childhood. To understand the effectiveness and research behind implementing NMT-guided treatment for these children, it is imperative to distinguish between the various subtypes of neglect while examining the broad consequences of withholding care. The United States defines child maltreatment as “any recent act or failure to act by a parent or caregiver, resulting in death, serious injury or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or a failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm” (McCoy & Keen, 2009, p.63). This legal definition is best understood by the idea that a caregiver repeatedly fails to provide the basic care needed by a child. Although neglect is often the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “neglect… middle of paper… sssss, highly individualized educational, enrichment, and therapeutic interventions are created” (Perry & Hambrick, 2008). ReferencesChild Trauma Academy, (2013). Childtrauma.org. Retrieved from http://www.childtrauma.org.McCoy, M.L., & Keen, S.M., (2009). Child abuse and neglect. New York: Psychology Press.Perry, B., (2006). Application of neurodevelopmental principles to clinical work with abused and traumatized children: the neurosequential therapeutic model. Working with traumatized youth in child welfare, 27-52. Perry, B., (2009). Examining child maltreatment through a neurodevelopmental lens: Clinical applications of the neurosequential treatment model. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 14: 240-55. doi:10.1080/15325020903004350Perry, B. & Hambrick, E., (2008). The neurosequential model of therapy. Reclaiming children and young people, 17(3), 38-43.