In the United States, mistreating a child is extremely despised. Many people believe that children are incapable of caring for themselves and therefore adults have a moral responsibility to care for them. Unfortunately, this sense of moral obligation does not protect children from abuse. Child abuse is a term that encompasses both child abuse and neglect. Child neglect accounts for 49% of all reported cases of maltreatment and is the most common form of child maltreatment (McCoy & Keen, 2009, p. 77). Neglect leads to harmful short- and long-term effects. Until recently, treatment for neglect was poorly effective; However, with the advancement of technology and research, a new treatment model has emerged. The Neurosequential Therapeutic Model (NMT) is a holistic intervention that appears to combat the long-term effects of physical neglect, giving hope to those abused in early childhood. In order to understand the effectiveness and research behind implementing NMT-guided treatment for these children, it is imperative to differentiate between different subtypes of neglect while examining the wide-ranging consequences of withholding care. The United States defines child abuse as “any recent act.” or the failure to act on the part of a parent or guardian, which results in death, serious injury or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or omission to act which poses 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 most basic care needed for a child. Although abandonment is often the first thing that comes to mind when we hear the word "neglect...... middle of paper ......ssment, educational, enrichment and highly individualized therapies are created (Perry & Hambrick, 2008).ReferencesChild Trauma Academy, (2013). Childtrauma.org. Retrieved from http://www.childtrauma.org. McCoy, ML and Keen, SM, (2009). Child abuse and neglect. New York: Psychology Press. Perry, B., (2006). Applying principles of neurodevelopment to clinical work with abused and traumatized children: the neurosequential model of therapy. Working with Traumatized Youth in Child Protection, 27-52.Perry, B., (2009). Examining child maltreatment through a neurodevelopmental lens: clinical applications of the neurosequential therapeutic model. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 14:240-55. doi:10.1080/15325020903004350 Perry, B. and Hambrick, E., (2008). The neurosequential model of therapy. Recovering children and young people, 17(3), 38-43.