I just received this idea from my great friend and associate Lesley and wanted to pass it on to our readers.

Freeze your family's DNA (hair follicles, and saliva) in separate marked pint-sized freezer bags then roll them up in an empty toilet tissue tube and place in a quart freezer bag and marked "FAMILY DNA". May not ever need it but can be crucial if you ever do.

 

When Patrick was reported missing, we wanted to get the word out as quickly as possible. So we took a photo of him and quickly scribbled the details that would achieve that purpose. As we were running short of flyers, our local Safeway Store Manager volunteered to get the posters typed, copied and back to us in a few short hours. The following morning we received his generous donation of several thousand neatly typed and printed posters.

Those were times before computers, e-mail, or even the internet and little was readily available to help families in search of missing children or other loved ones and we have been remiss for not having a poster available for those searching.

Please click the graphic image to download a blank PDF poster for your use and distribution as necessary.

 

 

10 Ways To Prevent Child Abuse In Your Community

Preventing child abuse should be everyone's concern. In your own community, you can help to strengthen families who are responsible for the well-being of their children. Every small effort can bring big rewards and will make a difference in the quality of life in your community. Here are 10 ways to get started:

• Support activities that raise public awareness during April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Contact a local agency for information on becoming involved.
• Volunteer at a local child abuse program. Parent support groups, crisis centers, and hot lines are typical programs that often welcome volunteers. Check your telephone directory for names of agencies in your area.
• Report suspected abuse or neglect. Keeping children safe means that each of us has an obligation to inform authorities if you have a reasonable suspicion that children are being harmed. Your concern may mean that children are protected from an abusive environment.
• Advocate for services to help families. Communities need comprehensive services that address issues that affect families. Parenting programs, health care, and housing needs are all important to maintaining healthy children and families.
• Speak up for nonviolent television programming for children. Let local television stations and sponsors of network programs know that you consider excessive violence inappropriate for impressionable young viewers.
• Make a contribution to a child abuse prevention organization. Your donations are put to good use in much-needed community programs. Prevention services are critical to preventing child abuse and to strengthening families.
• Help a friend, neighbor, or relative. Someone you know maybe struggling with his or her parenting responsibilities. Offer a sympathetic ear or a helping hand. Assisting occasionally with child care or offering to locate sources of community help can be a tremendous boost to someone under stress.
• Help yourself. Recognize the signs that indicate outside help is needed. If you feel overwhelmed, constantly sad, angry, and out of control, get some help. Remember, it is a sign of strength, not weakness, to ask for help.
• Support and suggest programs on child abuse prevention sponsored by local organizations. Kiwanis Clubs, Exchange Clubs, PTA, church groups, and women's and men's clubs, all offer excellent opportunities for raising public awareness in the community.
• Promote programs in schools. Teaching children prevention strategies can help to keep children safe from those who would perpetrate abuse on them.

To learn more about child abuse awareness and prevention here in The Survivors Forum, search on the key word: April. Also, the National  Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information maintains a tremendous amount of information on its website, including databases for statistics, research, prevention programs, and how you can become even more involved. See link below.

 

National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information

The National Center For Missing And Exploited Children

Abduction and Kidnapping
Prevention Tips for Parents and Guardians

1-800-THE-LOST ® (1-800-843-5678)

Stop Child Abuse

Resources, Support, and Help

Please visit our Victim Resources Page for Information, Support, Resources, and Informative Articles for downloading.

YOUR CHILD IS MISSING

SAFE CHILDREN PAGE

 

The following URL is dedicated to missing children please visit it often and be a Guardian Angel.

http://members.aol.com/Cuttyhunk/innocence.html

  Your Child is Missing

This is a  British Web site devoted to runaway and abducted children. Police are praising it as a powerful new tool to help them track down the hundreds of children who go missing every year. The site contains poster sized photographs and detailed physical descriptions of 14 missing children in Britain.

This is part of an international effort, with similar sites now in Brazil, Italy, the Netherlands and the USA, with a database of over 1700 missing kids.

http://www.missingkids.co.uk/

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The following website is dedicated to the  missing women of Vancouver BC in memory of 
Angela Rebecca Jardine.
http://www.vanishedvoices.com/ 

For additional HELP see our VICTIM RESOURCES  Page