Governor Kulongoski Signs Proclamation in Support of National Missing Children Day

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski again joined child safety advocates around the country in recognizing National Missing Children's Day, an annual reminder first proclaimed in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan that everyone can play a part in bringing a missing child home and that child protection must be a national priority.

Governor Kulongoski signed a proclamation announcing May 25th, 2008 as Missing Childrens' Awareness Day in Oregon.

There are approximately 2,000 children reported missing every day in this country according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in Alexandria, Virginia. Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC, says "We must keep hope alive for the children who are still missing, celebrate with the families whose children have been recovered and empower families with the information they need to keep their children safer."

In light of this important day, the Oregon State Police Missing Children Clearinghouse reminds all parents and guardians of the need for high-quality photographs of their children for use in case of an emergency, and the need for everyone to pay close attention to the posters and photographs of missing children. National statistics shows that one is six children who are missing are recovered because of a photograph.

Missing Children's Day also highlights the need for child safety education. Parents and guardians should discuss with their children the need to always check first with a trusted adult before going anywhere, accepting anything, or getting into a car with anyone; the importance of not going out alone and always taking a friend; that it's okay to say "no" and tell a trusted adult if someone makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused; and that they always have the right to be safe.

For the tenth year, a golf benefit will be held to raise money to purchase Child Identification Kits that would be useful to police in the event a child became missing.

The kits only take a few minutes to fill out, are non-intrusive and contain valuable information including a place for a photograph, medical information, personal information, DNA hair strand sample, fingerprints (self inking strip included), dental information and physical description. Once completed, the kit can be sealed in a zip lock bag and placed in the freezer or other safe place.

Child identification kits are not a budgeted item within the Oregon State Police. The OSP Foundation is sponsoring this year's golf benefit which rose over $12,000 last year.

This year's 10th Annual Oregon State Police Missing Children Golf Benefit will be played at Creekside Golf Course in Salem on Monday, July 14th, and spots are still open.

If you would like a free child identification kit or are interested in playing in the golf benefit, contact Judy Hayes, OSP Missing Children Program Manager, via email at judy.hayes@state.or.us or by calling 503-934-0188, or outside Salem call 1-800-282-7155.

Information about Oregon's AMBER Alert program, a critical missing child response program that utilizes the resources of law enforcement and media to notify the public when children are kidnapped, is available on our website at oregon.gov/OSP/AMBERALERT/index.shtml