Free Child ID Kits in Senath, Missouri

Volunteers with the FBI St. Louis Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association (FBISTLCAAA) are spearheading an effort to help the FBI, Senath Police Department, and the Dunklin County Sheriff’s office to distribute free Child ID Kits in Senath, Missouri, where 3-year-old Breeann Rodriguez disappeared.

When:

August 13, 2011 (Saturday) from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Where:

First Assembly Church (gymnasium)

601 South State Street

Senath, MO  63876

The kits use a clear inkless solution to produce the fingerprints without the messy black ink. The kits also allow parents to collect and store a saliva sample for DNA. Once the kit is completed, parents maintain it at home. Parents can carry a wallet card which has a spot for a fingerprint and a current photo of the child. The information WILL NOT go into any law enforcement database. The hope is parents will never need to bring the completed kit to law enforcement.

In the U.S., almost 800,000 children are reported missing every year. Twenty-five percent of those reported missing are abducted by family members. Seven percent are abducted by non-family members. Even more rare (0.01 percent) are victims of “stereotypical” kidnappings by a stranger or someone of slight acquaintance.

The National Child Identification Program was created by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in 1997 as a community service. In 2001, the FBI worked in conjunction with the AFCA in distributing the National Child Identification Program ID Kits.

The FBI Citizens’ Academy gives recognized business, civic and religious leaders a rare look behind the scenes of the FBI. The academy meets once a week for 8-10 weeks. A limited number of participants are selected from a pool of applicants nominated by FBI employees or academy alumni members. After completing the Citizens’ Academy, graduates are invited to join the alumni association to continue their education and support of the mission of the FBI through its community outreach efforts and programs. The FBISTLCAAA is a non-profit organization that is separate but closely affiliated with the FBI.

Also, visit www.fbi.gov for information on a new free FBI Child ID mobile app that allows parents to electronically store their children’s pictures and information if their child goes missing.