NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY – May 25
Thu May 25th

National Missing Children’s Day

National Missing Children's Day, which takes place on May 25th each year, shines a spotlight on child safety. The day also honors the dedicated professionals who work tirelessly for children around the country.

#missingchildrensday

Most children who go missing do come home. Many families find their way back to their family whether they've strayed off or there was a miscommunication.

According to the Polly Klaas Foundation, 99.8 percent of children reported missing came home. Of those who are kidnapped by a family friend, 9 percent are kidnapped by a family friend. Only a small percentage of stranger abductions are kidnappings. However, the truth remains, if it pertains to one child, it's one child too many.

Your children are the responsibility of your parents

Although today's observance honors those who have gone above and beyond to protect children, it's also a good opportunity to provide parents with information to keep your children safe every day. It's important to: It's important to:

  • Maintain custody records
  • Keep up with the most recent snapshots of children
  • Keep a log of fingerprints on file
  • Make sure medical and dental records are up to date
  • Monitor online activity
  • Make some rules about who your child hangs out with
  • Keep track of where your child is going
  • Get to know the parents of your friends
  • Complete background checks on caregivers and check references
  • Never leave young children unattended in strollers and car seats
  • If possible, don't dress children in clothing with their names on it
  • Teach your child's name and phone number as early as possible
  • Get to know your child's friends
  • Schedule events and gatherings in public places with your child and their families, as well as their parents and grandparents

Missing children organizations are being served by missing children organizations

  • Prevention of juvenile justice and delinquency Prevention by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
  • Children under the age of six are exploited and missing, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
  • Children are missing and injured, according to the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children
  • Children's Issues are among the topics addressed by the Office of Children's Issues
  • Child abduction is a child detention service that is in danger of being separated from the team that is being deployed quickly. The Rapid Deployment Team is a child deception team
  • Volunteer in your neighborhood
  • Share a safety story
  • To enter their poster competition, visit www.ojdp.gov
  • To show support, use #MissingChildrensDay on social media

History of national missing children's day has influenced the national missing children's day

President Ronald Reagan declared National Missing Children's Day in 1983, honoring the hundreds of thousands of children who went missing each year. On May 25, 1979, six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared from his New York City home just a few years before, a few years ago, just a few years ago. The observance commemorated the date of Etan's disappearance. In addition,, it also recognized missing children everywhere. Missing children were not widely distributed in national media coverage at the time of his disappearance. However, Etan's case gained a lot of attention right away. Etan's father, who was a professional photographer, sold black-and-white photographs of his son to find him. As a result, a massive search and media coverage brought public attention to the issue of child abductions. It also alerted that there are currently no plans to tackle child abductions.

Additional details are available here

As much as we hate to think about it, there are some things you may do if you or someone you know has a missing child. In the first 24 hours: In the first 24 hours: the first 24 hours:

  • Report the child is missing immediately to a law enforcement agency, prompting them to report it
  • Missing People File (NCIC) Have authorities to have your child listed in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). There is no waiting period for children under the age of 18 to join NCIC
  • Authorities are being asked to release a BOLO (Be On The Lookout)
  • If your child was taken from your house, please refrain from disrupting anything. Authorities normally gather evidence, but moving, sweeping, or throwing things in a wrong direction could delay an investigation
  • Get the name and phone number of the investigator who is investigating the missing child case. Remember to have this information on hand and readily available
  • Provide as much detail as possible about the truth relating to your child's disappearance, including what they were wearing
  • Making a list of friends, relatives, teachers, and anyone else who may have any important information about your child, whether they have been or where they should go
  • Tell investigators about the jobs you may have done or other people who were present at your house in the last year. Every little detail helps
  • Both in color and black and white, make copies of your child's most recent snapshot of your child. Make sure every law enforcement agency, missing children businesses, media, and social media have copies
  • Call 800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678) to request assistance with photo delivery
  • Phone numbers for any non-profit group that may be able to assist in finding the missing child are gathered
  • With the support of authorities, plan a search party for your child, including the use of tracking devices, apps, electronics, and dogs
  • Keep a detailed list of incoming and outgoing calls at or in your house with the date, person calling or making a call, and how long they were on the phone
  • To maintain your momentum, find a support system. Utilize any family or friends as much as possible
  • Eat and rest. It may be difficult, but taking care of yourself during this time is crucial