For Parents and Guardians

If Your Child is Missing

By Sarah Gianetto on October 2nd, 2007

Act immediately! If you are at home, search your house and any hiding places, such as laundry piles and closets. Children have ways of getting into places that adults wouldn't think of. Check in, under and behind everything. Don't forget the cars. Check with neighbors and nearby friends.

If you are away from home in a public place such as a store, notify the manager. Many stores have a plan of action if a child is missing while shopping in their establishment, like Code ADAM started by Wal-Mart and used by retailers all over the country.

If you cannot find your child, call 9-1-1, contact your local police, sheriff or other law enforcement agency. Stay calm and be ready with as much information as possible. Remember the unique daily details like what your child is wearing, any identifying marks like new scratches and such from playtime, as well as the basic information.

A device like the AMBER Alert Child ID Drive offers quick assistance with this. After you have reported your child missing to law enforcement officials, listen to their instructions and respond to their questions. Retain the name and phone number of the officers assigned to your case, and keep this information in a safe and convenient place.

Any significant and unexplained deviation from your child's daily routine should prompt a more timely response. This response may be expedited even more if any of these circumstances exist. If your child is:

• younger than 13 years of age
• mentally incapacitated or drug dependent
• a potential victim of foul play or with adults who could endanger the child's welfare
• communicating with someone he or she has become acquainted with via the Internet and has arranged to meet, in person, with the individual

If your child falls under state guidelines of an AMBER Alert having been abducted and in danger of serious harm or death—law enforcement can determine this and initiate protocol. Do not contact the AMBER Alert Portal. Personnel as the Portal cannot activate an alert or contact law enforcement.

Request that your child's name and identifying information be immediately entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing Person File. This ensures that any law enforcement agency in the country will be able to identify your child if he or she is found in another community. There is no waiting period for entry into NCIC for children under age 18.

Call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678) to ask for help with photo distribution. Also, ask for the telephone numbers of other nonprofit organizations that might be able to help.

Ask your law enforcement agency to organize a search for your child, perhaps using tracking dogs. Law enforcement can also assist in getting the media involved.

If after 24 hours your child is still missing, talk with law enforcement again. Expand your network involved in the search. Think of additional people who may have seen or been in contact with your child. Look at personal calendars, community events calendars, and newspapers to see if there are any clues as to who was in the vicinity and might be the abductor or a possible witness.

Give this information to law enforcement officials. Ask them to broadcast an alert around the country. Ask them to help with press releases and media, and for advice about the use of rewards for the return of your child.

Be sure to have caller ID, call waiting, voice mail and a cell phone. Designate someone to answer the phone and keep notes. Volunteers can help with many other day-to-day tasks so that you are available. Most importantly, stay calm, take care of yourself, and stay strong for when your child is returned.

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