GSA Helps Find Missing Children

GSA #9490

May 22, 1998
Contact: April Kaufman
202/501-1231

WASHINGTON - In observance of National Missing Children's Day on May 25, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children commended the U.S. General Services Administration for their commitment to helping reunite missing children with their families through GSA's "Missing Child Alert" program.

This program helped recover 28% of the children it featured in 1997 - twice the national average of children found through all photo distribution programs. Last year, 33 of the 108 children featured in the poster program were recovered. Additionally, six more children who were featured in 1996 were recovered in 1997.

The "Missing Child Alert" program is an information-age effort that puts missing children's faces and information before the public in Federal buildings. GSA downloads the photos and data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Internet site and digitally enhances and formats them. The photos and data are then transmitted to nearly 900 federally owned and leased buildings.

"The General Services Administration, in its efforts to carry out President Clinton's Executive Memorandum of January 1996, helps to bring images and information about thousands of missing children to the public through their creative displays in federal buildings nationwide," said National Center for Missing and Exploited Children President Ernie Allen in a letter to GSA employees. "There is no better time than National Missing Children's day to convey our thanks for your commitment and dedication to this important cause and to say how much we appreciate your participation throughout the year."

GSA offices across the country are focusing special attention on missing children this week. Activities include a picnic with McGruff the crime dog and distributing "Kinder Passports" to the parents of children who attend federal daycare centers. Along a main highway in Boston, an electronic sign bears the message "Remember Missing and Exploited Children" and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's hotline number -- 1-800-THE-LOST.

GSA's "Missing Child Alert" program began soon after President Clinton issued the Executive Memorandum directing federal agencies to post notices of missing children in government buildings.