WHAT IS TAKE 25?
• Take 25 is a national child safety campaign encouraging parents and guardians to take twenty-five minutes to talk to their children about ways to stay safer.
• A program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) created in commemoration of National Missing Children’s Day
• Take 25 promotes an ongoing dialogue between children, families, and communities
about child safety issues.
• Take 25 is a national grassroots initiative designed to raise awareness of the issues
surrounding missing and exploited children.
WHAT IS NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY?
• National Missing Children’s Day was first declared a nationwide day of commemoration by former President Ronald Reagan in 1983 and has continued to be annually marked by each Administration.
• Annually honored as May 25th, this day serves as a reminder to the nation to renew efforts to reunite missing children with their families, remember those who are still missing and make child protection a national priority.
WHY IS TAKE 25 IMPORTANT?
• According to a study by the U.S. Department of Justice there were an estimated 800,000 children reported missing in the United States in 1999, amounting to roughly 2,200 per day. Thankfully, the vast majority are located quickly.
• According to that same DOJ study, an estimated 58,200 children were abducted that year by non-family members. About 115 children are the victims of the most serious, long-term abductions that people consider “stereotypical kidnappings.”
• A 2003 study conducted by RoperASW, a leading marketing research firm, surveyed a group of more than 1,000 parents and grandparents. The study’s results indicated the need for increased parental/guardian education as half of the parents and grandparents considered child abduction and sexual exploitation to be a “very big” problem.
For more information, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office has teamed up with the following groups; Michigan Masons, Safe Kids Lakeshore, Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Sam’s Club to promote the TAKE 25 campaign. On Wednesday May 20, 2009 stop in at the Sam’s Club at 2190 North Park Drive in Holland Township located adjacent to US 31 between 4p-8p to learn more on the TAKE 25 campaign. Children will have the opportunity to take part in the Masons MICHIP program. In a matter of minutes, you’ll walk away with a “Child ID kit” that includes everything needed for the Amber Alert system. You can also visit booths sponsored by Safe Kids Lakeshore and learn more about Bike, Boater or Home safety as well as information on child safety seats. Join your community in learning how to keep our children safe on May 20, 2009.
To find out more, view the following: may-20-flyer and brochure
