12. Appendices

12.25. Appendix Y: Additional Resources NCMEC

NCMEC – National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that serves as a resource for families, law enforcement, and the public in cases involving missing and exploited children. Founded in 1984, the NCMEC works to help locate and recover missing children, prevent child abduction and exploitation, and provide support services to victims and their families. The organization operates a 24/7 hotline for reporting missing children and suspected child exploitation, as well as conducting public campaigns and educational programs to raise awareness about these issues. With a focus on collaboration and partnerships with law enforcement agencies, government entities, and other organizations, NCMEC serves as a national clearinghouse and plays a vital role in safeguarding children and combating crimes against them.

NCMEC’s role in disaster response

NCMEC responds to requests by disaster-impacted communities, states/tribes to support missing child search and rescue and reunification efforts. NCMEC can assist in a disaster response regardless of a Presidentially declared disaster if a child is:

  • Missing under the age of 18 whose whereabouts are unknown.
  • Separated from their legal guardian due to a variety of circumstances.
  • Missing along with their family members.
  • Found to be unaccompanied by their parents or legal guardian.

Below are disaster related resources that NCMEC can provide to support any disaster response:

  • 24/7 Call Center: 800–THE–LOST (1–800–843–5678)
  • National Emergency Child Locator Center
  • Field Resources & Team Adam
  • Case Management
  • Analytical Support
  • Specialized Forensic Services
  • Unaccompanied Minors Disaster Registry (UMDR)
  • Reunification & Crisis Intervention

24/7 Call Center: 800–THE–LOST© (1–800–843–5678)

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children© (NCMEC), serves as an information clearinghouse and national resource center on issues related to victims, missing and exploited children and operates a national toll-free hotline. As a normal course of work, NCMEC provides resources, technical assistance, and prevention services to victims, families, and the public, as well as support to law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels in cases involving missing and exploited children. NCMEC's 24-hour hotline is 800–THE–LOST© (1–800–843–5678)

National Emergency Child Locator Center

NCMEC operates the National Emergency Child Locator Center (NECLC), as listed in the Robert T. Stafford Act. The NECLC may be activated through a request to FEMA from a State, Tribe, or Territory during Presidentially declared disasters. Its primary mission is to host a toll-free hotline to assist with the reunification of children who have become separated from their parents or legal guardians during a disaster. When activated, the NECLC can be reached through 800–THE–LOST© (1–800–843–5678)

Team Adam (Field Resources)

Team Adam provides rapid, onsite assistance to law-enforcement agencies and families during critical cases involving missing children. Consultants are deployed to the scene and provide technical assistance and connect families and law enforcement to NCMEC’s vast network of resources. Team Adam partners with FEMA to provide child reunification services, providing assistance to families affected by such disasters nationwide.

Case Management

NCMEC provides direct case management support after a missing child is reported to NCMEC and a Case Manager is assigned. As NCMEC’s primary point of contact in the missing child’s case, the Case Manager will coordinate the wide range of NCMEC support services for law enforcement, parents, and legal guardians of missing children while the child is missing and after they are recovered.

Poster Creation and Distribution

When a child goes missing, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) works closely with parents, guardians, and law enforcement to quickly disseminate information about the child's disappearance to the public across a vast poster distribution network. NCMEC creates posters using these photos to enhance the chances of receiving leads regarding the child’s whereabouts.

Analytical Support

NCMEC can provide free to law enforcement, direct analytical support for missing and unidentified deceased child cases to include missing children who have run away, have been missing a long time, were abducted by a parent or family member, are being trafficked for sex, or have special needs.

Specialized Forensic Services

NCMEC offers forensic services to law enforcement, medical examiners, and coroners to find missing children, identify unknown deceased children, and develop leads on child abduction homicides. The Forensic Services Unit calls upon subject matter experts from a wide array of forensic disciplines to develop a comprehensive evidence strategy to ensure all possible forensic resources have been considered. The forensic professionals NCMEC collaborates with provide a limited number of free or reduced-cost services and resources.

Unaccompanied Minors Disaster Registry (UMDR)

The Unaccompanied Minors Disaster Registry (UMDR) supports the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) by allowing the public to report information related to children who have been separated from their parents or legal guardians as a result of a disaster. This tool will enable NCMEC to provide assistance to local law enforcement and assist in the reunification of displaced children with their parents or legal guardians. The UMDR provides a place for emergency management agencies, law enforcement, shelter staff, hospital employees, and other organizations to report minors in their care during disasters. When a person makes a report to the UMDR, it goes directly to NCMEC’s Call Center. A case will be opened for the child, and information will be passed on to field resources on the ground. The UMDR site is https://umr.missingkids.org/umr.

Reunification & Crisis Intervention

NCMEC’s masters-level trained advocates work to strengthen families by offering telephonic support when planning for prevention or managing a crisis. This family-centered approach helps create a collaborative environment to assist victims and families identify areas of need and find the right community-based resources to assist with healing and reconnecting. NCMEC is available to help families prepare for their child’s needs when children initially reunite with their families or months later. Families in financial need may qualify for transportation at low or no cost to them once their children are recovered.

A downloadable version of this appendix is available here.