Funding Would Assist Missing Child Program
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -A branch of “A Child Is Missing” may soon be established in Massachusetts’ 1 st Congressional District.
The House recently approved $240,000 for the program, which assists law enforcement agencies during the first few hours after a child or elderly adult is reported missing. The money would be used to search for missing children and elderly, conduct child safety programs and assist law enforcement agencies throughout the 1 st district.
The money is included in the 2006 fiscal year Science, State, Justice and Commerce appropriations bill, which the House approved Nov. 9. The Senate must now pass the bill.
To locate a missing child or elderly adult, A Child Is Missing uses an advanced telephone computer system that sends an automated emergency message to residents and businesses in the area where the missing person was last seen. The computer can call about 1,000 locations per minute and give a description of the missing person and telephone numbers to call.
“This system, as tested by law enforcement, has the potential for saving those first few precious hours,” said Rep. John Olver, D-Amherst, a member of the Appropriations Committee,. “This funding will go a long way–all towns and law enforcement agencies in the 1st Congressional District, as well as the rest of Massachusetts, will benefit from this program.”
A Child Is Missing, a national nonprofit organization started in 1997, is branching its way across Massachusetts. The program has led to the recovery of missing persons in Abington, Brockton, Framingham, Kingston, Longmeadow and Pepperell .
In the past 44 months 126 recoveries have been recorded and verified by law enforcement officials nationwide, said Claudia Corrigan, vice president and national expansion director of the program.
The program assists in all types of missing cases – abductions, lost children, runaways, lost senior citizens and lost physically and mentally challenged persons.
The Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner will conduct training for area residents about the program in the near future.
“We’ve been working with Congressman Olver in setting up meetings with A Child Is Missing representatives to learn more about what they need,” said Lea Ann Erickson, director of community relations at the college. “The college will essentially serve as a subcontractor by facilitating the training.”
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