There are important, necessary steps that need to be taken when a child is believed to be missing. The goal is to ensure quick, consistent and compliant responses that prioritize child safety. By following the necessary procedure, Child Welfare Professionals can make informed decisions, avoid delays in reporting, and ensure coordinated efforts with law enforcement to locate missing children as quickly and safely as possible.

The child’s caregiver, legal guardian or Child Welfare Professional must immediately report a missing child to law enforcement when the following exigent circumstances are apparent:

• The child is under age 13
• The child has a physical or mental incapacity, or a developmental or behavioral challenge that renders the situation more dangerous than it would be for a child with more maturity or resources
• The child is with others who may endanger his or her safety,
• The child is known or believed to be in a dangerous or life-threatening situation
• The child has been identified as a victim of human trafficking
• The child is missing under circumstances inconsistent with established behaviors.

If exigent circumstances do not apply, the child’s caregiver, legal guardian, or Child Welfare Professional may take up to four hours from the time the child is first suspected to be missing to actively search for and attempt to locate the child prior to contacting local law enforcement.

Active search efforts include:

• Searching the child’s belongings
• Calling/texting the child’s cell phone
• Checking the child’s computer, social media accounts, or other online accounts
• Contacting the child’s friends, relatives, or known associates
• Searching areas that the child is known to frequent
• Contacting the child’s school
• Contacting the child’s employer

The Child Welfare Professional will contact Children’s Legal Services immediately but no later than 24 hours after the child is determined to be missing, to assess whether a Pickup Order should be obtained. If a Pickup is determined to be appropriate, Children’s Legal Services shall attempt to obtain a court order as soon as possible, but no later than four hours, from the point of determination.

RESOURCE: FAC 65C