Given the large proportion of clients struggling with both individual issues and more concrete/
material disadvantage, findings of the current research suggest a partial mismatch between client
needs and worker responses in cases of child neglect. For example, while over 70% of all investigations
had at least one poverty-related need identified, only 17% of these cases received any referrals related
to assisting families with material or concrete needs. This possibility is supported by previous
research demonstrating differences in client and workers’ perception of needs, with clients most often
identifying the need for material and instrumental resources compared to workers’ focus on risk to
children due to individually-based problems such as addictions, mental health, and poor knowledge