| Missing children is a serious problem everywhere | | | | emergency use. However, this information can |
| today. In the U.S. alone nearly 2000 children are | | | | and should be updated every few years, which |
| reported missing every day. A free regional | | | | many families can do on their own by adding |
| program called the Missouri Child Protection | | | | recent photographs of the child and other new |
| Program (MoCHIP) helps to prevent that | | | | information. Additionally, these families could teach |
| unimaginable tragedy from happening. It also helps | | | | their children certain self-defence moves and what |
| to recover missing children rapidly. Its provisions | | | | to do if it appears they are being abducted by |
| are reviewed below. | | | | friend or foe. |
| What is MoCHIP? | | | | Who can take part? |
| First, MoCHIP is not to be confused with ModChip, | | | | Any child from the age of 0-21, who can get to a |
| which is an digital program for controlling or limiting | | | | MoCHIP registration event. These events are |
| video games. Nor is it a surgical implanting of an | | | | generally held at festivals, state fairgrounds, |
| electronic microchip under the skin or in the | | | | theaters, and other public gathering places. |
| earlobe of children to trace them via satellite | | | | How much information are we talking about? |
| signals. Instead, MoCHIP is a packet-information | | | | The information collected for each child includes |
| tool for protecting families from the ongoing | | | | the child's names, nicknames, social security #, |
| problem of missing children. It is free of charge. | | | | birth date, place of birth, home address w |
| At this time, over 81,000 children have been | | | | zip-code and phone number, child's phone number, |
| registered in Missouri and its surrounding areas | | | | gender, predominate race or mix, eye and hair |
| over the last four years. This kind of program is | | | | colors, height, weight, distinguishing marks, parental |
| also expanding to other regions. | | | | or guardian information w/addresses and phone |
| How does it work? | | | | numbers, doctor information w/address and |
| Basically, the compiled information packet | | | | phone number, medical condition and related |
| comprises the careful documentation of the | | | | needs if any, dentist information w/address and |
| known facts, identifying features, and social | | | | phone number, known clubs, youth groups, and |
| associations of each child in a family. It also | | | | associations, and an emergency contact besides |
| provides the following items for each one. | | | | the parents, e.g., an uncle, grandparent, or |
| - digital fingerprints | | | | neighbor. If the blood type is known, it can also |
| - dental bite (tooth-prints) | | | | be added. |
| - DNA saliva sample | | | | Important fact about teenagers. |
| - emergency contacts | | | | Teenagers appear to be the most frequent |
| - digital photographs The information is then | | | | victims of both non-family abductions and typical |
| loaded onto a mini-CD. Additionally, two laminated | | | | kidnappings. In one study of the missing ones |
| ID cards are made for each child and family. The | | | | reported statistically, 81% were 12 or older |
| child in question could carry one of the ID cards | | | | (beyond puberty), which could be contrary to a |
| for informational and protective purposes. In any | | | | popular belief that only young children disappear. |
| case, the family takes the compiled information | | | | Conclusion. |
| and ID-cards home for safe keeping together | | | | Many families and parents want to protect their |
| with specific instructions on how to prevent | | | | children beyond the normal means, especially if |
| potential abductions, and what to do if their child | | | | they walk or ride a bicycle to school, or are |
| should ever be missing. Should that unfortunate | | | | unaccompanied by adults at other times. Thus, |
| situation ever occur, this information (the CD) is | | | | having their vital identifying information |
| immediately given to the law-enforcement agency | | | | documented, compiled, and safely stored where |
| for rapid followup action. For the | | | | they or the school and law-enforcement agencies |
| younger-than-teenage children, the Amber Alert | | | | can retrieve it rapidly is a good idea. Also, the |
| system will also be activated immediately. | | | | ID-cards showing their registrations can deter |
| The sponsoring organization of MoCHIP keeps | | | | certain would-be abductors. |
| none of the personal information on file for itself, | | | | Further information on child protection programs |
| except for a participation record. The compiled | | | | can be found on the Internet. Do-it-yourself |
| personal information is kept privately with the | | | | identification kits can also be found or purchased |
| family who participated in documenting it for | | | | there. |