Children are considered one of the most vulnerable populations on the Earth. Developing - and, therefore, vulnerable - children are considered a protected group that, when negative things happen to them, humanity as a whole experiences grief and feels moved to act.
Prior to the 1980s, not much was done for missing children, at least in the advertisement department. Missing child cases were often handled on a local level, without much fanfare. When more missing child cases started to appear across television screens between the ‘70s - ‘80s, the Milk Carton Kids became a nationwide campaign to promote finding missing children. Not much came from the Milk Carton Kids; the campaign wasn’t much of a success for the kids who were featured.
But, the Milk Carton Kids solidified a nationwide movement that focused on protecting the most vulnerable of classes - children. In 1983, then-President Reagan designated May 25 as National Missing Children’s Day, with the purpose of bringing awareness to child victims of abduction. Here are some things to know about NMCD!
1. Children Go Missing Every Day
In 2019, the FBI reported over 420 thousand entries of missing children. The reasons children go missing vary, but the fact remains that children go missing every day. Some children are recovered in hours - typically those that go missing from ‘misunderstandings’ (a bus not picking kids up on time, kids playing with friends later than they’re supposed to, etc). Others are recovered within days or months. Some are not ever recovered.
2. Thrownaway Children are a Thing. (yes, seriously)
It seems callous, but the federal government has a category of missing children labeled ‘Thrownaway Children.’ Typically counted alongside runaway children, thrownaway children are those whose parents/caretakers ‘kick’ them out. Thrownaway children are, realistically, abandoned by their caretakers. Even if the caretaker is planning on letting them come home the next day, thrownaway children are left without adequate food, shelter or water for an extended period of time.
3. Most Missing Children are Runaways, Not Abductions.
Interestingly enough, most missing children are found to be runaways and not abductions. Regardless, this doesn’t mean that reports of missing children who run away from home shouldn’t be taken seriously - in fact, we should be paying closer attention to them. Why are these children choosing to run away from home? Recognizing that there’s more to the story actually might provide insight into parenting skills, mental health or even open up abusive households.
4. Missing Children are Often Exploited.
It’s gut-churning to think about, but avoiding the truth is one of the worst ways we can diminish the reality of missing children. NCMEC reported that, in 2019, 16% of the 26k+ cases of runaway children reported were subjected to sex trafficking. For many of us, it’s heartbreaking to know that children are taken and subjected to such cruel treatment. But knowing the dangers of what can happen when children go missing is one of the ways that we can better equip our children to exercise safety on the internet, at school or out with friends and peers.
5. The AMBER Alert Saves Lives.
There is hope - the AMBER Alert, put together by the federal government, alerts locals to missing children in their area. Started in Texas by newscasters and the local police in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area when a young girl was abducted and then murdered, the AMBER Alert has existed since the late 1990s. By the end of September 2019, almost 970 children had been recovered nation-wide using the AMBER Alert system. Sure, the noise it makes on your phone is piercing - but it does the job!
We hope you take today to hug your kids a little tighter and give a moment or two for the parents who have lost theirs. Say thank you to the law enforcement, advocates & other professionals who do everything they can to help locate and fight for missing children!