Ask any parent and they’ll probably tell you nothing equals the pain of a child gone missing. And what about the child? What could be more painful than to be ripped from his or her family?
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) initiative educates people on how to react when a child goes missing and how to identify a missing child. It works by disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge and practices, plus provides grants to implement these strategies.
Most of the responsibility for child safety falls to law enforcement at the state and city level. Our best defense is to encourage parents, guardians and others involved in day-to-day child care to work with these agencies as closely as possible.
There are many people, both individuals and those in law enforcement, who make exceptional efforts to rescue and protect our children. It’s why Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25th as National Missing Children’s Day. Each year there’s a ceremony to honor those who go beyond the call of duty.
Check www.ojjdp.gov/missingchildrensday to learn more about this award program.
