Perceptions of Neglected Children and Negligent Parents about Causes for Removal from Parental Homes

A sample of 27 neglected children and their parents from South Africa were interviewed to ascertain why they believed the children were removed from their homes by legal authorities. The responses indicated that both parents and children were likely to perceive the removal to be a function of some action or personality characteristic of the child. Parents described their children in a negative, disapproving frame of reference and appeared to be immature and irresponsible in their attitudes toward their offspring. The actual reasons for removal of the children from their homes included truancy, alcoholism, serious marital discord, runaways, financial destitution, desertion, drug abuse, physical abuse, and promiscuity.