The Masonic Child ID Program (CHIP)

In the spring of 2003, Elizabeth Smart of Utah, abducted, held in the woods by her kidnapper, hears the scent dogs searching nearby. She has been spirited away from her home, her bedroom, only hours before. According to an article by Dr. David Harte, director of the Massachusetts Masonic CHIP (CHild ID) Program and member of the state dental identification response team, the dogs could have found her that day if Miss Smart's parents had her Toothprint from the Masonic CHIP program. ("The Trowel", Fall 2003)

According to Irving Shapiro, Assistant Director of the CHIP program in Massachusetts, the CHIP began in New York to aid with finding missing and runaway children. Soon after, the first CHIP event in Massachusetts was held in 1996 at the North Shore Mall in Peabody. Over one thousand Children's fingerprints and video images were recorded at that first event. About four years ago, Toothprints, a simple dental impression, was added to the program. DNA oral swabs will be added in the near future. All of the identification materials are given to the children's parents or guardians to store until they may be needed by the police. The Masons do not keep any of the identification materials or any of the personal information of any of the children or parents.

The scope of the CHIP program is impressive. Since its inception, over 225,000 different children have been processed by CHIP volunteers. The Masons pay about $3.00 per child for all of the necessary supplies. The June 2003, issue of the ADA News reported that over 1/3 of Massachusetts Dental Society dentists have donated their time to CHIP programs.

Saturday, November 19, the Health Advisory Committee of the Lynnfield Schools will host a community wide CHIP event at Huckleberry Hill School, during the annual pancake breakfast. The program will be manned by community and Masonic volunteers.

After registration, every child is interviewed on videotape. A volunteer asks questions such as, "what is your favorite color?" or "where do you go to school?" The Freemasons recommend that each video be appended annually at future CHIP events so that it is possible to see the progression of change.

Fingerprinting is a well-known and classic means of identification. Fingerprints do not change significantly over time. Children usually enjoy the process of fingerprinting.

Dentists and other healthcare workers are needed for the dental impression phase of the CHIP. Plastic wafers called "Toothprints" designed by Dr. David Tesini of Massachusetts are warmed to the temperature of hot cocoa (about 120 F) and the child is asked to bite on it. The impression technique is very simple and provides a great deal of information. Investigators can use this piece of plastic to determine the size, shape and position of a missing child's teeth. Another benefit is the presence of saliva odor on the Toothprint. The odor of the saliva may be the most important benefit for newly missing children. While a 6 year old's Toothprint may be useful for many years, it is best to update it annually. The Toothprint or sample must be kept in the refrigerator, not the freezer, until it is needed. The Toothprint staff's role was recently expanded to include using a cotton swab to collect a DNA sample by wiping the inside of the child's mouth.

The benefits of saliva odor have lead to the introduction of a new safety tip for children called "Spit for Safety". Scent dogs, often used to find missing and abducted children, easily follow the odor of the subject's saliva. With this in mind, adults and children who are lost are asked to spit on the ground periodically. Dogs will follow the spit trail to the victim.

It's no secret that the Freemasons, with the help of the Massachusetts Dental Society, are helping to keep our children safe. The benefits of the CHIP program are available free to all comers. The next event in our area is Saturday, November 19, 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at Huckleberry Hill School, 5 Knoll Rd, Lynnfield, Ma. The Health Advisory Committee of Lynnfield, MA, needs several adult and teenage volunteers. Please call or e-mail Dr. David Leader to sign up: David.Leader@Tufts.edu or (781) 334-6972. To see the complete calendar of Massachusetts CHIP events check out their web site: http://www.mychip.org.