Emotional Neglect - The Failure To Thrive Syndrome (From National Conference on Juvenile Justice - 8th, 1981 - See NCJ-76585)

• NCJ Number: 76598
• Author(s): J M Brundage
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 0 pages
• Sale Source: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. This is a selection on side seven. The running time is 19 minutes.

Annotation

A juvenile court judge discusses the failure-to-thrive syndrome and psychosocial dwarfism at the 1981 National Conference on Juvenile Justice.

Abstract

A slow rate of growth characterizes the failure-to-thrive syndrome, which usually results among children from simple malnutrition. The juvenile court can often help solve the problem by providing that social service agencies educate parents in proper nutrition. Both this problem and psychosocial dwarfism are usually identified through hospital placement and diagnosis. Psychosocial dwarfism is a condition in which a child fails to grow normally because of a negative or adverse emotional environment. The families of affected children usually deny that a problem exists and bitterly contest such cases in court. Although the immediate termination of parental rights may be the disposition in a child's best interests, the speaker suggests that families be given a chance to rehabilitate themselves with the aid of a social service agency before termination is decided for. A table of contents is included.