National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Charles B. Wang International Children’s Building
699 Prince Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3175
1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
www.Missingkids.com
Established in 1984, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
®
is the leading nonprofit
organization in the U.S. working with law enforcement, families and the professionals who serve them
on issues related to missing and sexually exploited children. As part of its Congressional authorization,
NCMEC has created a unique public and private partnership to build a coordinated, national response
to the problem of missing and sexually exploited children, establish a missing children hotline and
serve as the national clearinghouse for information related to these issues.
Missing Children
When a child goes missing the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
®
is ready to assist
families and law enforcement agencies 24 hours a day. Each case brings its own set of unique
challenges, and NCMEC is prepared to help meet those challenges. NCMEC's case management teams
work each case on an individual basis by providing coordinated support and access to analytical and
technological resources. NCMEC is prepared to assist in all missing child cases, even when a child has
been missing for a long period of time, was abducted internationally by a parent or has special needs.
Child Sexual Exploitation
NCMEC operates the Cyber Tipline, Child Victim Identification Program, Sex Offender Tracking
Team and Child Sex Trafficking Team to help law enforcement and the private sector reduce the
proliferation of child pornography and prevent child victimization. NCMEC also provides assistance
to law enforcement to help identify and recover victims and prosecute offenders.
Victim and Family Support
NCMEC provides support services to victims and families coping with the traumatic experiences of
abduction and sexual exploitation. Services are administered by master-level trained mental health and
child welfare professionals. The victim and family support services provided by NCMEC include:
• Immediate crisis intervention when a family needs help with a missing, exploited or
recovered child.
• Support for survivors of abduction and exploitation, including helping them to connect with
other victims.
• Emotional support for endangered runaways, parents, guardians and families.
• Referrals to appropriate agencies and mental health professionals.
• Reunification assistance from skilled therapists to help reintegrate a recovered child back
into the home during each stage of reconnecting and rebuilding.
• Support for siblings of victims.
• Assistance in locating federal, state and local organizations for sexually exploited youth.
NCMEC is ready to provide support and assistance to you and your family. Call 1-800-THE-
LOST
®
(1-800-843-5678.)
National Runaway Safeline
3080 N. Lincoln
Chicago, IL 60657
1-800-RUNAWAY
www.1800runaway.org
The mission of the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) is to help keep America’s runaway, homeless
and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. Beginning as the National Runaway Switchboard, and now as
National Runaway Safeline, NRS’ capabilities and services have grown considerably. The 1-800-
RUNAWAY hotline and 1800RUNAWAY.org online crisis services are available 24-hours a day, 7
days a week and 365 days a year throughout the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico,
the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.The organization serves as the federally designated national
communication system for runaway and homeless youth.
Crisis Intervention
NRS operates a confidential 1-800-RUNAWAY hotline and 1800RUNAWAY.org online crisis
service (live chat, emails, bulletin board) 24/7/365. Texting is now also another option for kids in
crisis to connect at 66008. NRS’s team of staff and volunteers receive 40 hours of training to provide
non-judgmental, non-sectarian and non-directive support, empowering callers to develop a plan of
action to improve their situation.
Information & Referrals
A database of about 10,000 youth and family resources provides countless options for callers to access
a myriad of services, such as counseling, shelter services, alcohol/drug treatment and child protective
services.
Message Service
NRS maintains a message service for youth who want to relay a message but are not ready to
communicate directly with their parent. NRS’ message service is a less intimidating means for a youth
to reestablish contact with their parent/guardian and often serves as the first step toward reunification.
In addition, a parent may access the service to leave a message for his/her child.
Home Free
In partnership with Greyhound Lines, Inc., NRS helps reunite runaway youth with their families, or
alternate living arrangement through a free bus ticket home. More than 15,000 youth have been
reunited with families through the Home Free Program since 1995.
Online Resources
Our website, 1800RUNAWAY.org, has four main goals: to provide online crisis intervention with one-
on-one chats, emails or bulletin board postings, to direct calls to the hotline so that youth and families
can receive verbal, individualized attention and support; to engage youth and families so they can
access critical information before a runaway episode occurs; and to disseminate information about
NRS, youth and runaways to the community.
To contact the National Runaway Safeline call: 1-800-RUNAWAY or 773-880-9860.
