Missing Kids Readiness Program

This program promotes best practices for responding to calls of missing, abducted and sexually exploited children. Agencies will be recognized by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children ® for meeting essential training and policy elements demonstrating preparedness for responding to a missing child incident. This recognition demonstrates to the public the member agencies’ further excellence in public safety services and helps reinforce the public’s faith and confidence in the commitment of member agencies to safeguard children from abduction, sexual exploitation and other risks.

MKRP membership one pager

The first step in becoming an MKRP member agency is to complete and submit an application. Once received, the applicant will receive further instructions on accessing the online training and policy review.

Law Enforcement Agencies

Communications/ECC

List of Program Participants

More about MKRP membership and training

Agencies meeting essential training and policy elements demonstrating preparedness for responding to missing and sexually exploited child incidents will be recognized by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® with a certificate, plaque, media release template, posting on social media and listing on the NCMEC website. Member agencies will be encouraged to include MKRP membership on their agency website with accreditations, certifications or special recognition. Emergency communications centers (ECCs) will be announced at the annual APCO conference. There are no application or membership fees, annual dues or other costs from NCMEC to participate in MKRP.

Criteria for initial MKRP membership

Law enforcement agency criteria

• All sworn law enforcement officers must complete the Missing & Exploited Children Introductory module (MECINTRO) and MECPAT (for Patrol personnel) online law enforcement training modules.
• Supervisors must complete the above modules and the MECSUP module.

• Criminal investigators/detectives must complete the above modules and the MECCID module.
• The chief or sheriff and command staff must complete the three-day Chief Executive Officer seminar on Missing & Exploited Children (CEOMEC)* or along with all command staff, complete the four online law enforcement modules identified above and the MECCOM (command) module.

*Each module requires approximately 30 minutes to compete.

The agency adopts the NCMEC Law Enforcement Model Policy and Procedures for Reports of Missing and Abducted Children developed with the assistance of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (or their policy meets critical components of the model policy). The agency written directives are reviewed by NCMEC staff to verify compliance.

Emergency communications center criteria

• All telecommunicators must complete Missing & Exploited Children Introductory module (MECINTRO) and telecommunicator (MECTEL) training modules.*
• Supervisors, QA/QI evaluators and trainers must complete the above modules and the MECSET module.*
• The ECC director must complete the three-day Chief Executive Officer seminar on Missing & Exploited Children (CEOMEC)* or complete the three online PSAP modules identified above and the PSAP executive (MECEXEC) module.*

*Each module requires approximately 30 minutes to compete.

• The agency adopts the APCO ANSI Standard for Public Safety Telecommunicators When Responding to Calls for Missing, Abducted and Sexually Exploited Children (or policy and procedures meeting critical elements of the ANSI Standard). Directives should also state that all telecommunicators are required to receive missing and exploited child training prior to release from training. The agency written directives are reviewed by NCMEC staff to verify compliance.

• Written directives must address quality assurance. The directive that addresses quality assurance must include the specific function/title of personnel responsible for reviewing the appropriate missing or sexually exploited child calls, the length of time after receiving the call that it will be reviewed and the procedures to be followed. Reviews should be conducted on all abduction, lost child and internet crimes against children calls and all other missing or sexually exploited child calls that generate an elevated or Atypical response. For further guidance NCMEC recommends referring to the APCO/ANSI Standard for the Establishment of a Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement Program for Public Safety Answering Points.

MKRP Renewal Criteria

Membership in the Missing Kids Readiness Program is valid for a period of four years. During the fourth year as a member, the agency must meet the following criteria in order to remain a member. Failing to complete the renewal process will result in forfeiting membership and the agency is removed from the member page.

Law enforcement agency criteria for renewal

Chief or Sheriff has successfully completed the five online law enforcement modules. If it has been more than four years since completion, the Chief or Sheriff and command staff must take it again as additional information has been added to each course.

• Any additional sworn personnel employed, assigned or promoted since the agency became an MKRP member must complete the online law enforcement modules appropriate to their position.
• Submit the agency’s missing children’s policy to ensure it still aligns with the Law-Enforcement Model Policy (or policy meeting critical components of the model policy.)

Emergency communications center criteria for renewal

PSAP director has successfully completed the four required online courses. If it has been more than four years since completion, the director must take it again as additional information has been added to each course.

• Any additional telecommunicators employed, promoted or assigned as supervisors, QA/QI evaluators or trainers since the agency became a member must complete the required online courses.
• Submit the written directives on processing calls of missing and sexually exploited children for verification of alignment with the APCO ANSI Standard (or protocol meeting critical elements of the ANSI Standard.)

Policies

Law Enforcement Agency Policies

Law-Enforcement Policy and Procedures for Reports of Missing and Abducted Children

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children developed this model policy for law enforcement when responding to reports of missing children. It was developed with the assistance of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Emergency Communications Center Policies

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the Association of Public safety Communications Officials, International (APCO), the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and other stakeholders collaboratively developed this best-practice standard for telecommunicators when responding to calls regarding missing and sexually exploited children and model policies for responding to these calls. The American National Standard Institute (ANSI) recognizes these best practices as a national standard.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children requires ECCs to address quality assurance of missing and sexually exploited child calls in order to be recognized as MKRP members. The structure and needs of each ECC will determine specifics. The quality assurance statement should include the specific function or title of personnel responsible for reviewing the missing or sexually exploited child calls, the length of time after receiving the call that it will be reviewed, the specific call types that will be reviewed and the procedures to be followed. Use of the APCO American National Standard (ANS) is voluntary but offered as guidance.

Link to https://www.apcointl.org/standards/standards-to-download/ for Download of the APCO ANSI Standard for the Establishment of a Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement Program for Public Safety Answering Points.

For further information about MKRP, please email: MKRP@ncmec.org