The Relational Assessment of Neglected Youth (RANY): Probing the Need for an Assessment Tool
Date
2020
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Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences
Abstract
While child neglect is the most substantiated form of child maltreatment, there is a lack of assessment tools
leading to effective treatment, particularly among older victims of neglect. To date, the research has focused
on younger victims and the subsequent disruption in the attachment relationship. Although development of
child neglect assessment tools has been pioneered by an ecological model, the relational nature of this type of
maltreatment also necessitates an assessment of relational factors that are highly correlated to child neglect.
Because neglect occurs within the caregiver relationship, assessment of interpersonal impairments among
older youth can best be guided by relational cultural theory, which postulates people grow and develop
through relationships. Accordingly, the Relational Assessment of Neglected Youth (RANY) is a proposed
assessment tool aimed at identifying the foundational elements of neglect, the incongruence between neglect
and relational growth and development, and the psychological impact of neglect. The development of the
RANY depends heavily on the identification of interpersonal elements and is driven by the need for youth and
caregiver input. This article constructs a case for the development of the RANY, which proposes to fill the gap
in assessment of older victims of neglect and the resultant relational and psychological impairment
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Keywords
child neglect, assessment, relational assessment, child maltreatment, research
Citation
Dale, C. (2020). The Relational Assessment of Neglected Youth (RANY): Probing the need for an assessment tool. Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, 14(1), 17.