National Missing Child Day

In 1983 President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25 National Missing Child Day. Since then, each administration has honored this yearly reminder to renew and expand efforts to reunite missing children with families. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) provides information and resources to help find missing and exploited children and to educate the parents of children who are still at home. National Missing Child Day is an annual event with a founding purpose to renew the nation's commitment to finding lost children. .

According to NCMEC, an estimated 797,500 children are reported missing in the U.S. yearly, or over 2,200 daily. One in every seven children between the ages of 10 and 18 will runaway. In the United States, there is an estimated 1-3 million homeless runaways. Of the children considered abducted, several forms of abduction exist: family abductions, non-family abductions, throwaways, and parental abductions/kidnappings. One in every seven missing or exploited children cases result from online sexual exploitation. The NCMEC reports that one is every five girls and one in every ten boys will be sexually victimized in their lifetime. Without any immediate evidence of foul play, missing or exploited children are often reported as 'juveniles' in the law enforcement system.

On National Missing Child Day, reintroduce yourself to missing children resources. One of the most known resources for missing children is the Amber Alert. The Amber Alert was named for 9 year old Amber Hagerman, a young girl whose body was found in January 1996 after an abduction (the case is still unsolved). Amber Alert is a partnership between law enforcement, transportation agencies, and the media to broadcast a urgent missing child message in the quickest time possible. This program allows an entire community to assist in searching for a missing child based on identifying broadcast messages. To use Amber Alert there must be a reasonable belief a child is missing. The child must be under 17 years of age and thought to be in imminent danger. As well, law enforcement must have adequate information and description of the child. The child's critical information, including the child abduction flag, must be entered into the computer system. The report is then sent to primary radio stations. Some states also use electronic billboards on national highways and buses to issue Amber Alerts.

The online resource CyberTipLine has proven to be a major source for missing child identifications and leads. Since formation in 1998, the tip line has received over 546,600 calls. CyberTipLine is a congressionally mandated reporting program for child sexual exploitation cases. These cases include child pornography, molestations of children outside the family, child prostitution, and obscene material sent to a child. Reports can be made to the CyberTipLine 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, online or via the toll free number 1800-843-5678

As well as utilizing Amber Alert and CyberTipLine, individuals can help missing children by getting involved, donating, reporting sightings to local authorities, and staying informed. The CMEC urges all Americans to take an extra moment to look at posted missing children posters. A large part of missing children cases have been solved by persons recognizing faces on signs, milk cartons, and newspaper postings. Individuals are reminded to take notice of situations that may not seem 'right' when involving a child. Also, try to memorize key information like the child's appearance, a car they may have been in, or the other persons identifying marks.

Parents are encouraged to speak to their children about safety at as early an age as possible. Take 25 is a NCMEC program to encourage parents to take twenty-five minutes to speak to their children about safety. Parents should be open and honest and provide information for children on what to do if they suspect 'bad activity'. Programs and resources are available online to assist parents, law enforcement, and childcare providers in protecting children. Adults can find information on how to keep children safe offline and online.

On National Missing Child Day, parents are urged to create and keep and updated child Id kit. Kits should include an updated photo, a listing of identifying marks (including hair color, eye color, height and weight), dental records, fingerprints, medical reports, and a DNA sample. Child Id kits can be purchased or downloading free online. Power of Parents Safety Program is just one example of free child identification programs to assist parents.

On National Missing Child Day, we are all urged to get involved, stay informed, and to address legal concerns with our government and lawmakers. You can read about child abduction statistics and the projected 'holes' in the system at Kids Search Network.

To access information on registered sex offenders in your neighborhood you can utilize Megan Law websites in your state. You can also use quick zip code access with links on Kids Search Network.

There is hope for the lost and hope for the children who are still home. With continuing resources and education, missing children across the nation still have a chance to reunite with their families and friends. You can read about missing children success stories on the CMEC website.