OJP News:WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of Justice Programs’ Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) announced the award of more than $28.3 million in funding to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to support efforts to prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation.
OJJDP has partnered with NCMEC for more than 30 years to respond to incidents of child abductions and to bring children home safely. The Center was created to build a coordinated national response to missing and sexually exploited children, establish a missing children hotline, and serve as the national clearinghouse for information and resources related to missing and exploited children.
The grant award will be used to fund the Center’s operations and to provide support, technical assistance and training to assist law enforcement in locating and recovering missing and exploited children.
“Enhancing public safety, which includes protecting our children, is a fundamental priority of our Office,” OJJDP Acting Administrator Eileen M. Garry said. “These funds will help continue the center’s critical work in locating missing children, preventing the exploitation of children and supporting those who work tirelessly every day to protect our youth.”
NCMEC was created in 1984 by John and Reve Walsh and other child advocates following a series of well-publicized child abductions, including that of their son, Adam.
For more information about the Center, including specific programs and services offered, visit www.missingkids.org. Media desiring to contact the Center can do so online at www.missingkids.org/Media.
