Final answer:
The most common referral for child welfare cases is neglect, comprising 78.3% of cases, which is much higher than other forms of child abuse.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to our guest speaker on child protective services, the most common referral for child welfare cases is for neglect. Neglect accounts for 78.3 percent of child abuse referrals, which is significantly higher than other forms of abuse such as physical abuse (10.8 percent), sexual abuse (7.6 percent), psychological maltreatment (7.6 percent), and medical neglect (2.4 percent). Neglect can manifest in various ways, including failure to provide essential food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision. In combination with other risk factors, such as substance abuse, social isolation, parental depression, and low educational attainment, neglect can lead to significant long-term impacts on a child's wellbeing, including physical, mental, and emotional health issues.