You can't be with your children and teens every moment. So, it is vital you teach them how to keep safe.

     Your children must be taught to always ask your permission before going
anywhere or accepting anything from an older person. And, they should
also ask your permission before they help any adult. That means they are allowed to say "No!" to adults who interact with them when you are not present.

     Strangers who call your child by name may catch them off guard; don't advertise your children's names on their clothes or belongings. Encourage your children to use the buddy system; they are at a reduced risk when they are with others.

     Make time to communicate with your children and teens. Encourage them to speak with you about their experiences and feelings. Pay close attention if they talk about someone or something that has made them feel scared or uncomfortable. Their instincts can be quite accurate.

Information for CHILDREN:

     There are a lot of rules to follow when you are just a kid. But did you know there are rules for adults, too?

     Older people - who you don't know - should not need to ask you for anything.

     Older people - who you don't know - should not give you anything.

     Older people - who you don't know - should not take you anywhere.

      If someone older than you, that you don't know breaks any of these rules, it's OK to say NO! And, talk to your Mom or Dad right away. Make sure you have their permission to do anything with any person.

      In fact, if anybody makes you afraid, you should talk to your Mom or Dad. They'll listen to you. You are very important to your parents, and they want you to be safe and happy.

Information for TEENS:

     As you become more independent and move through the world on your own, it's up to you to stay safe.

     If someone or something makes you feel scared or uncomfortable, be sure to talk about it with a parent or other trusted adult. Your instincts may be very accurate.

     Be careful on the internet. Before sharing information and photos on social sites, make sure you're not accidentally providing details like school or organization uniforms, landmarks and street signs. Don't make it easy for untrustworthy or bad people to track you down. And, don't meet your online buddies in person alone at any time.

Information for Law Enforcement:

     When a child is missing, overwhelming emotions can hinder parents' ability to gather identification information for Law Enforcement during the critical first hours.

With Safety Net Child Id Programs, parents can collect and securely store ID information on their children. If a crisis occurs, they can immediately share this relevant information with Law Enforcement Agencies. Remember when a child becomes missing to ask parents if  have participated in the Safety Net Program.