Defining Child Abuse and Neglect

Abstract

Abstract Ever since the case of Mary Ellen Wilson garnered headlines as the first child rescued from an abusive situation in 1876, the plights of children who are abused and neglected have captured our attention and mobilized our resources. We have learned much about diagnosing child abuse and neglect and even more about providing effective intervention and treatment. The first step in helping maltreated children is to identify those who have been abused or neglected and often this is done through a medical diagnosis. Over the years, in the retelling of Mary Ellen Wilson’s story, myth has sometimes been confused with fact. Some of the inaccuracies may stem from colorful but erroneous journalism, others from simple misunderstanding of the facts, and still others from the complex history of the child protection movement in the United States and Great Britain and its link to the animal welfare movement. While it is true that Henry Bergh, president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), was instrumental in ensuring Mary Ellen’s removal from an abusive home, it is not true that her attorney—who also worked for the ASPCA—argued that she deserved help because she was “a member of the animal kingdom.” The real story—which can be pieced together from court documents, newspaper articles, and personal accounts—is quite compelling, and it illustrates the impact that a caring and committed individual can have on the life of a child.