Speaking to a group of young adults in Youth Villages Georgia’s LifeSet program, Atlanta-area Realtor Meka Wilson tossed out little bags of M&Ms to each youth that participated in the discussion.

Your brain is amazing. It controls everything you think, feel and do. It tells you when you are hungry, tired, frustrated, sad or happy. It helps you do math.

Child neglect — a series of events where the caregiver does not meet a child’s basic needs — is a pervasive issue that affects millions of children across various demographics and communities.