All of my research questions are grounded in the primary prevention of neglect.
Despite the general understanding that neglect and poverty are related, the majority of theoretical models of neglect, empirical analyses of neglect, and neglect interventions lack integration of structural inequality.
One strand of my research program focuses on the identification and definition of child neglect. I seek to broaden and refine current theoretical models of neglect, by incorporating sociological explanations of child well-being. My theoretical work on neglect has called on researchers and practitioners to implement true ecological theory in their work and been published in practitioner-focused outlets in both the U.S. and Canada, such as Child Welfare and on the Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal.
A current project seeks to evaluate the extent to which evidence-based neglect prevention programs actually incorporate components beyond parental behavior intervention. This project documents whether programs eligible for reimbursement under the Families First Prevention Services Act address known structural correlates and causes of neglect. In doing so, we establish that most neglect prevention programs still use a parent-blaming approach.
Publications and projects in this area:
White-Wolfe, H., Thomas, M., & Blumenthal, A. (In preparation; Author order TBD). A conceptual and empirical review of etiologies of neglect.
Blumenthal, A., Hong, S., Maguire-Jack, K., & Herrenkohl, T. (In Press). An intersectional perspective on child maltreatment. In Bergen, R. K., & Renzetti, C. M. (Eds.), Gendered Violence in Families: New Directions. San Diego, CA: Cognella.
Esposito, T., Caldwell, J., Chabot, M., Blumenthal, A., Trocmé, N., Hélie, S., Fallon, B., & Precourt, S. (2024). Disparate socioeconomic risk in child protection intervention: a longitudinal child lifetime prevalence study. Child Abuse & Neglect. 154(August).
Blumenthal, A. (2023). Collective responsibility and collective failure: Re-theorizing child neglect. In K. Briar-Lawson, P. Day, & L. Azzi-Lessing (Eds.), Child Neglect, Inequity, and Poverty: Contextual Issues and Implications. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America.
Esposito, T., Caldwell, J., Chabot, M., Blumenthal, A., Trocmé, N., Fallon, B., & Hélie, S. (2022). Childhood prevalence of involvement with the child protection system in Quebec: A longitudinal study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(1), 622.
Blumenthal, A., & Staller, K. M. (2022). Children’s rights. In D. Bailey & T. Mizrahi (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Macro Social Work. NASW Press; Oxford University Press.
Blumenthal, A. (2021). Neglect as collective failure to provide for children: Towards a new theoretical approach. Child Welfare, 99(3), 31-60.
The Jordan’s Principle Working Group (2015). Chapter 1: A call to action from the Jordan’s Principle Working Group. In Without denial, delay, or disruption: Ensuring First Nations children’s access to equitable services through Jordan’s Principle. Ottawa, ON: Assembly of First Nations.
Sinha, V., Blumenthal, A., Churchill, M., Trocmé, N., Lach, L., Lavoie, J.G. (2015). Chapter 2: The current governmental response to Jordan’s Principle. In Without denial, delay, or disruption: Ensuring First Nations children’s access to equitable services through Jordan’s Principle. Ottawa, ON: Assembly of First Nations.
Sinha, V., Churchill, M., Lach, L., Blumenthal, A., Lavoie, J.G., Trocmé, N. (2015). Chapter 3: The context of Jordan’s Principle in health and child welfare services. In Without denial, delay, or disruption: Ensuring First Nations children’s access to equitable services through Jordan’s Principle. Ottawa, ON: Assembly of First Nations.