The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), was established in 1984 as a private, nonprofit organization.
Services the NCMEC provide are:
- serves as a clearinghouse of information about missing and exploited children
- provides technical assistance to the public and law-enforcement agencies
- offers training programs to law-enforcement and social service professionals
- distributes photographs and descriptions about missing children worldwide
- creates and coordinates child-protection education and prevention programs and publications
- networks with nonprofit service providers and state clearinghouses regarding missing-child cases
- provides information about effective legislation to help ensure the protection of children per 42 U.S.C. 5771 et seq; 42 U.S.C. 11606; and 22 C.F.R 94.6
A 24-hour, toll-free telephone line, 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678), is available in Canada, Mexico, and the United States for those who have information regarding missing and exploited children.
Other phone numbers:
- 00-800-0843-5678 "phone free" number when dialing internationally
- 1-800-826-7653 TTY line
- 703-274-3900 NCMEC business number
- 001-703-522-9320 NCMEC business number when dialing from other countries
- 703-274-2200 NCMEC facsimile number
www.cybertipline.com CyberTipline is available worldwide for online reporting of these crimes.
http://www.missingkids.com/ NCMEC web-site address
How NCMEC can help
After you have reported your child missing to local law enforcement, call the toll-free telephone number. A Communications Specialist will take information concerning your child, a Case Manager may be able to follow-up with you and the law-enforcement agency investigating the case, and NCMEC may be able to refer you to a support group in your community that can also help.