Final answer:
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974 is the U.S. legislation addressing child abuse and neglect, providing funds and guidelines for prevention and treatment of child maltreatment. It defines neglect as the most common form of abuse and provides provisions for state intervention in cases where available services are not used.
Step-by-step explanation:
The national legislation that addressed child abuse and neglect in 1974 is the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). Developed as a response to growing awareness of the need to protect children, CAPTA provides federal funding to States in support of prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution, and treatment activities, as well as grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for demonstration programs and projects. Additionally, the act sets guidelines for states to follow in responding to child maltreatment.
Child abuse takes various forms including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological maltreatment, and medical neglect. Neglect is the most common form, manifesting when a child's basic needs are not met. Factors like cultural values, poverty, and a lack of resources can lead to neglect, and when available services are not utilized by parents or guardians, intervention by child welfare services may be necessary.