A number of organizations and agencies in both the public and private sector work with parents whose children are missing. These agencies can provide information, assistance with photo and flier production and distribution, referral services, and investigative resources to you, your family, and law enforcement.
Private Resources
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
NCMEC serves a variety of functions:
Distribution of pictures and posters of missing children nationwide.
Provision of information and technical assistance to citizens.
Provision of training, technical assistance, and technical support to State missing children's clearinghouses and to State and local law enforcement agencies.
You can call NCMEC to get copies of its intake and release forms mailed or sent to you via fax and to get information on how you can have a color picture of your child posted on NCMEC's Web site, distributed to NCMEC's photo partners, and printed on fliers for you to distribute.
NCMEC also manages and coordinates Project ALERT (America's Law Enforcement Retiree Team), a free consultation service on missing children cases for law enforcement agencies.
Other Nonprofit Organizations
A number of private nonprofit organizations provide services to families whose children have been
abducted. Before you contact such an organization, however, ask NCMEC or AMECO to tell you which
organizations meet their requirements for certification or membership. You might also want to talk
with your law enforcement contact and with the parents of other missing children. Be wary of
organizations that promise they can find your missing child, that request payment for these services,
or that are unknown in this field.
Victim's Advocates
Ask your law enforcement contact to arrange to have a victim's advocate come to your home to explain
your rights and to explore the counseling, treatment, and related services available to you. V
ictim's advocates are usually associated with the offices of the sheriff, the State prosecutor, or
the district attorney. If you have access to the Internet, you can find a list of victim advocacy and
compensation groups at the Office for Victims of Crime Web site (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc).
Federal Resources on Missing and Exploited Children: A Directory for Law Enforcement and Other
Public and Private Agencies (see Recommended Readings) also contains a list of victim's advocate
services and organizations.
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