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PUBLICATION ADVISORY


The Office for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Updates When Your Child Is Missing: A Family Survival Guide

The Office of Justice Programs’ Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention today released the fifth edition of When Your Child Is Missing: A Family Survival Guide, designed to help families take necessary steps, contact the right people, and know how to move forward when their child is missing. The publication contains checklists with critical information to help parents and caretakers work with law enforcement, the media, search and rescue professionals and volunteers. The guide also suggests ways for families to maintain their financial, physical and emotional well-being. In addition, the guide provides a framework for understanding the different types of missing persons cases and related terminology.

The first edition of When Your Child Is Missing: A Family Survival Guide was published in 1998, by parents who had experienced a missing child and wanted to help others who were facing similar situations. The first of its kind, the guide quickly became the go-to resource for the families of missing children, not only in this country, but around the world. The guide was last published in 2010.

This fifth edition has been updated with the most current information about interacting with law enforcement and the media; financial considerations; and personal and family well-being. It also provides resources and related readings.

Title:

When Your Child Is Missing: A Family Survival Guide

Author:

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention with contributions from the parents of missing children.

Where: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/publications/family-survival-guide.pdf

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About the Office of Justice Programs

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law.

More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

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OFFICE: ojjdp.ojp.gov
CONTACT: OJP Media at media@ojp.usdoj.gov

Date Published: May 30, 2023