An abandoned child has lost her parent’s love, attention and support. Historically, states were responsible for caring for abandoned children. In 1935, Congress established the Aid to Dependent Children program as part of Social Security, and today the state and federal governments crack down on parents who have failed to provide for the needs of their children.
Description of Child Abandonment
Abandonment refers to the action of a parent breaking the relationship ties between him and his child. The child is abandoned when his father or mother fails to provide support, according to the US Legal website.
History
Abandonment is not a new concept. During the 19th century, abandoned children, called ragamuffins, roamed urban London looking for food and shelter. During the same time period, 20 percent of the children born in Paris were abandoned, according to the Encyclopedia of Children’s Health. In present-day America, there are more than 7,000 abandoned children every year. According to the United Nations, 60 million children worldwide are abandoned and live either in orphanages or on their own.
Significance
In 2002, up to 30 percent of U.S. children met the legal definition of abandonment, because their noncustodial parent was not supporting them, according to the Encyclopedia of Children’s Health. Less than half of single-parent children receive any kind of support from their noncustodial parent.
Types
In addition to the legal concept of abandonment, there are other situations in which a child might feel abandoned. For example, her noncustodial parent could stop communicating with her, even if he pays support. A parent could die or get sick. A child who feels abandoned by one parent often worries about the remaining parent or caregiver abandoning her.
Effects
When a child is abandoned, he feels the loss of his parent’s love. The way the child copes depends partly on his age. An adolescent might feel lowered self-esteem, betrayal, loneliness and guilt as a result of his abandonment. Younger children might blame themselves, thinking they did something wrong. The Encyclopedia of Children’s Health calls the abandonment of a child an “extreme form of child neglect.”
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