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Embracing Every Child: Our Care for the Abandoned, Neglected, Surrendered, Foundling, and Orphaned
Abandoned
An abandoned child encompasses children who lack appropriate parental care or guardianship and those whose parent(s) have been absent or deserted for a minimum of three (3) consecutive months, including foundlings.
Neglected
A neglected child is a child whose essential needs have been intentionally or inadequately unattended for three (3) months. Neglect encompasses failing to provide for the child’s holistic development, including their health, education, emotional well-being, nutrition, shelter, and safe living conditions. This failure to meet the child’s needs, considering the available resources reasonably accessible to the family or caregivers, has the potential to cause harm to the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social development. Neglect also encompasses the lack of proper supervision and protection of children from potential harm.
Surrendered
A Voluntarily Committed Child refers to a child whose parent(s) or legal guardian consciously and willingly relinquishes parental authority to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or any authorized child-placement or child-caring agency or institution.
Orphaned
According to the definition by UNICEF and its global partners, an orphan is a child who has experienced the loss of one or both parents.
