It is our responsibility as parents to look out for our children, their safety and well being at all times because young children are unable to look out for themselves. As parents we must take an active interest in our children and their lives on a daily basis. We are responsible for teaching them about safety and how to protect themselves and keep themselves safe from harm and strangers. Most importantly of all we must provide them with the love and attention they need to thrive at home in order to keep them from looking for it else where.

Take the time to get to know your child/children from the inside out. Don't only talk, but listen wholeheartedly and very carefully to your children's fears, and be supportive of their needs and in all your discussions with them. Make them feel they can come to you about anything and you will not judge but you will protect them. Create a relationship with your child/children that is loving, open, trusting and supportive. Be sure you do the best you can to adequately fulfill their needs.

Please teach your child/children to trust their own feelings and instincts, and assure them that they have the right to say, " NO" to what they sense is wrong. Teach them not to let anyway persuade them to change their, "NO" to a yes when they mean "NO".

Start at a young age teaching them that no one should approach them or touch them in a way that hurts them, makes them feel uncomfortable and in their private areas. Be sure you child/children know they need to come to tell you immediately if someone does, tries to touch, hurt or scare them.

Teach them at an early age about stranger danger and to be assertive in order to protect themselves against abduction, exploitation or abuse. Teach them not only NOT TO TALK TO STRANGERS, but make them aware of who strangers really are! This is very important. Be sure they know that a stranger in NOT a scarey person dressed in dark clothes lurking in the bushes, but as well can be the grandfatherly type man next door or the women who walks her puppies in the neighborhood park. Be sure that they understand the meaning of what and who a stranger is. Test your child in public by pointing to various people they do not know and asking them if they are strangers...you may be very surprised by their answers.

Take the time and make the effort to know your child/children's` friends and daily schedule and any after school or social activities. As parents you must be aware at all times and know exactly where your child/children are and whom they are with. Tell your child/children they must always ask your permission to leave the yard or to go into a friend's house.

Keep an up-to-date list of all your child's friends name, addresses and phone numbers.

Teach your child/children to always use the buddy system and team up with at least one friend at all times when going places unaccompanied by an adult. Never go places alone.

If someone follows them on foot or in a car, tell them to stay as far away from them as possible. Don't go near the car or talk to the people inside. Never hitchhike or try to get a ride home with anyone. Make sure they know they should not get into a car or go anywhere with any person unless you have told them that it is okay.

Adults who need help should not be asking children; they should be asking other older people. Teach them do not answer and stay back away from the car. No one should be asking a child for directions or to look for a "lost kitty or puppy". If someone tries to take them somewhere, or force them into their car quickly scream as loudly as they can , "This is not my dad help!!", "This man is trying to take me away!" or "This woman is not my mother someone help me!" Whatever they do tell them don't stop screaming until they are safe. Kick, hit, bite and keep screaming. A person who is trying to abduct a child wants to do so quietly tell your children to NEVER go quietly and willingly.

If you are in a public place, and you become separated from your children teach them not to wander around looking for you. This will only get them more lost. Tell them to go the nearest cashier, checkout counter, security guard or store manager and tell the person that they have lost their mom or dad and need help finding them.

Be sure your child/children know their full name, age, birthday, street address, city, state, phone number, how to call home from a pay phone, and how to make a collect call.

A few minutes of your time filling out paperwork now could mean the difference between life and death in the event your child does become, lost, missing or abducted. Every moment is crucial when a child is missing and being prepared with all the must have vital information. Keep this important information and up- to-date clear photos at least from the shoulders or waist up (replaced at least every six months) of your child in an quickly accessible place. This makes the process go much faster for all involved! With today's technology and video cameras in many homes across this nation it is a very good idea to have a yearly video tape of your child available. This will allow the public to not only see your child, but as well a video is more useful than a picture because it shows the child's mannerisms and speech as well as how they look. It is a better tool in helping to identify a missing child.

A few minutes or even hours could make all the difference in recovering your child safely! Immediately upon discovering your child's disappearance contact your local law enforcement agency. Do not waste time every minute counts! With the vast amount of resources and technology out here today things can be moving in a matter of minutes.

Make sure your next phone call is to one of the national child find search centers listed below. Most of their phone lines are answered 24 hours a day. These centers offer help that is what they are here for! Their staff members are highly trained and work closely with local and federal law enforcement agencies all around the nation. They will produce flyers at no cost. They have the training and the expertise to handle hot lines, take leads and disseminate those leads to the law enforcement agencies. These centers can help you in setting up a local search center for your child. Their staff will contact local TV and radio stations, newspapers to get the word out as quickly as possible. Most even have access to the internet which can quickly send vital information nationwide and internationally in seconds.

Below you will find information and links to other inportant sites for missing children.

Sam Fastow

Attention Residents of the following states:

Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia,
Washington D.C., Pennsylvania

On 10/8/97 the van belonging to Steven Fastow, a 1989 White Ford Aerostar Van bearing license plate number EJ288S was spoted on Route 50, in Carrollton, Md. PLEASE HELP US BRING SAM HOME SAFELY by looking out for him, the van and his non custodial father shown in the above photo. We NEED your help and the help of everyone in this area. Please click here to see photos and please also take the time to click here and print Flyers. We are asking everyone to print out as many flyers as possible and plaster them all over your cities and states. Contact any friends or relatives you may have in these states asking them to help! Let's make it impossible for this man to keep hiding!! Let's STOP this injustice and bring this boy home to his mother and family where he belongs!!!

Please click here to see photos:
http://www.waldwickpd.org/kidnapd.htm
Please click on here to print Flyers:
http://www.catalystdm.com/help.htm

North America Missing Children Association

"Though little Jimmy Ryce is gone he still remains deep within the hearts of those who searched and prayed for his safe return. As an angel up in heaven now looking down upon us, his presence is still felt each passing day as we all do our small part in order to help stop abuse and horric crimes such as this. God Bless you dear sweet angel and may he hold you close within his arms."

There are many Jimmy's in this world and my heart goes out to all of them and their families who are left behind to try and pick up the pieces and continue to struggle through each and every day. God bless you all!

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