Missing Children's Assistance

Goal: Protect missing and exploited children. Support research, training, technical assistance, and demonstration programs addressing the prevention, investigation and services for missing and exploited children and families, and professionals who work to prevent, recover and assist missing and exploited children, including victims of online and/or commercial sexual exploitation; Establish and maintain a national resource center and clearinghouse dedicated to missing and exploited children issues (NCMEC); and support the AMBER Alert program. Support task forces, hotlines, and other mechanisms to coordinate resources and information to respond to missing and exploited children. (1) Support enhancements to law enforcement�s investigative responses to missing and exploited children issues (e.g., the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program); (2) support programs focused on the online and/or commercial sexual exploitation of children; (3) provide a toll-free hotline where citizens can report investigative leads and parents and other interested individuals can receive information concerning missing children; (4) promote information sharing and networking opportunities between regional nonprofit organizations, state missing children clearinghouses, and law enforcement agencies; (5) support the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Center to increase the capacity of law enforcement to respond to missing, endangered, and abducted children.