The Morgan Nick Foundation

CAINE:First, let's get some background on the Morgan Nick case. Please tell us a bit about the person for whom this foundation is named.

MORGAN NICK FOUNDATION (MNF): At 10:45 p.m. on June 9, 1995 in Alma, Arkansas, 6-year-old Morgan Nick was abducted from a little league ball game by an unidentified man. She was attending the game with her mother and had joined some friends to catch lightning bugs. Morgan was last seen standing near her mother's car where she had stopped to empty sand from her shoes.

Witnesses observed a man watching the youngster as she was playing with other children at the park. The witness also saw a red Ford pickup with a white camper parked nearby that disappeared at about the same time as Morgan. The camper is possibly damaged at the right rear, and was described as four or five inches too short for the truck, which has a short wheel base and paint dulled by age. The truck is believed to have Arkansas license plates.

The man was described as white, 6 feet tall, with a medium to solid build, a mustache and a 1-inch beard. At the time, he was believed to be 23-38 years old. At the time of her disappearance, Morgan was approximately 4 feet tall, about 55 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Morgan had 5 visible silver caps on her molars. She was last seen wearing a green Girl Scout t-shirt, blue denim shorts and white tennis shoes.

A massive investigation has turned up thousands of leads, but still no solid clues to the whereabouts of Morgan Nick or her abductor. The FBI and local communities have offered a $60,000 reward for the recovery of Morgan Chauntel Nick and the identification, arrest and conviction of subject or subjects responsible for her abduction.

The search continues to move forward. There have been numerous possible sightings of Morgan across the United States. Morgan's parents believe that Morgan is still alive and hope that with continued media coverage, someone will be able to provide them with information that could bring their daughter home.

CAINE:If a family with a missing child contacts the Morgan Nick Foundation for help, what can the Foundation do for them?

MNF: MNF serves as a support team to the many families of missing children. A MNF case manager works with the families and serves as a liaison to law enforcement agencies. MNF also provides on-site support to families and law enforcement when a child is missing by creating and printing flyers of missing children, working as a liaison with law enforcement and the media, coordinating local and national resources for the searching family, and providing hope, encouragement, resources, empowerment and on-going support to both the immediate and extended family members of a missing child. These services are extended to any missing child, including runaways.

CAINE: What are some immediate steps that one should take upon realizing that a child is missing?

MNF: If your child has gone missing from home, search the house, looking in closets, under piles of clothes, under beds, inside vehicles and trunks, wherever a child may hide. If you still cannot locate your child after ten minutes of searching, call 911.

If your child is missing in a store, notify the store manager or security. Then, immediately call 911. Many stores have a Code Adam plan; if a child is missing in the store, employees immediately mobilize to look for the child.

When law enforcement arrives, provide them with your child's name, date of birth, height, weight and unique identifiers such as birthmarks, glasses or braces. Tell them when your child went missing, from where, and what clothing he or she was wearing. Provide them with a recent photo and an ID kit, if you have one. Request that your child's information be entered into the National Crime Information Computer (NCIC) immediately. Law enforcement may have to initiate the request to media for broadcasting the details of your child's disappearance.

Contact the Morgan Nick Foundation. We can offer a wealth of assistance including, but not limited to: acting as a liaison with law enforcement, assisting with the media, creating and printing posters, coordinating local and national resources, and providing on-going support.

Contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1.800.THE.LOST or missingkids.com.

Contact TEAM HOPE (Help Offering Parents Empowerment) to talk to someone who has walked in your shoes. To contact them, dial 1-866-305-HOPE or visit teamhope.org.

If you believe your child may have run away, contact the National Runaway Switchboard at 1-800-RUNAWAY or visit 1800runaway.org. Children who run away ARE considered missing and can be in just as much danger as children who go missing in other ways.

Keep your home phone staffed and keep a record of all conversations with names, dates, times, phone numbers and a few notes about the discussion.

Take care of yourself. You need to eat, sleep, relax, exercise, take time with family and friends in order to stay strong to search for your child. Never give up hope.

CAINE: What kinds of photos are most helpful to law enforcement in the event that a child goes missing? What kinds of photo ID should parents keep on hand?

MNF: The best photo to have for law enforcement purposes is a head shot taken straight on. It is recommended that these photos be updated every six months for younger children and every year for older children. Also, it is best to keep a hard copy of the photo handy as well as an electronic copy for quick, immediate and extensive dissemination.

CAINE: A primary concern these days is online safety. How can children be kept safe while surfing the Internet?

MNF: It's important to note, first, that these rules not only apply to the internet, but all other forms of technology, such as cell phones, gaming systems, and so forth. Here are some guidelines for parents:

· Post clear, simple, easy to read online rules on or near your monitor. Teach children what identifying or personal information is and to never give it out (home address, school name, telephone number, age or financial information).
· Teach children to never post photographs on websites that are accessible by the public.
· If your child's online activities are causing concern, talk to them. Remember, the manner in which you approach the situation and respond will determine whether your children will confide in you when they encounter a problem.
· Teach your children to never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they've met online without your permission.
· Teach your children not to click on any links that are contained in email from people they don't know. These could lead to inappropriate websites or a computer virus.
· Teach children that people online may not be who they seem. Someone who says they are a 12-year-old girl could really be a 40-year-old man.
· Keep the computer in a open family room rather than the child's bedroom.
· Monitor children's e-mail accounts and consider joining them when they are in private chat areas.
· Take advantage of filtering features built into internet browsers and software programs that block areas known to be inappropriate for children.
· If you become aware of child pornography being transmitted, used or viewed while online, immediately report this to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTip Line at 1-800-843-5678 or go to cybertipline.com.

For more guidelines and games for children go to netsmartz.org.

Kids' Rules for Online Safety:

· I will talk with my parents or guardians about the rules for going online.
· I will tell a trusted adult if anything online makes me scared, uncomfortable or confused. I will not download anything without permission from my parents.
· I will never share personal information such as my address, phone number, school name or location without my parents' permission.
· I will never respond to messages that are mean or make me feel bad. If I do get a message like that, I will tell a trusted adult and I will never send those kind of messages.
· I will never meet someone in person that I have first met online without checking with my parents.

CAINE: If you suspect that a child living in your area is the victim of an abduction, what are some signs to look for? How can we recognize abducted children among us?

MNF: What to Look For:

· Incomplete or un-forwarded school records.
· No birth certificate.
· No verification of immunization shots and missing medical and dental records.
· The child seems withdrawn or neglected.
· There seems to be inconsistencies in names, dates of birth, addresses and past events.
· The child has academic or behavioral problems. They may lie frequently trying to cover up the truth about their life.
· Attendance at school is often sporadic. They don't take part in after-school activities.
· Attendance at many different schools.
· Reluctance to give school personnel any personal or family information.
· Sometimes they appear confused about their real name and don't seem to trust anyone.
· The child seems fearful of law enforcement.
· The child seems fearful of parent(s) or guardian(s).
· The child may not remember the other parent.
· The other parent may be listed as deceased or unknown or not listed at all on emergency information documents.
· The "parent" may be overprotective and keeps very close tabs on the child’s activities, friends and comments.
· The child may have dyed hair or has other appearance modifications.
· The child may not wear properly fitting clothes.
· The child is reluctant to talk about where they lived in the past.
· The child never invites friends to their home.
· Abductors and their victims generally move around a lot to keep from being found out. As a result, abducted children live a transient life, often living in out-of-the-way cabins and trailer parks. With little sense of stability, they don't make friends or fit in easily.
· You should be sensitive to any "family" situation that doesn't feel right. The most common non-family abductor relationship is a single child with a single man who is passing as the "father" or "grandfather".

If a Child Appears Lost or in Need of Help:

· Be alert and report suspicious activities and situations.
· Do not be afraid to get involved.
· Comfort the child, but use caution in physically touching the child.
· If the child is able to speak, ask if they are lost and where their mom/dad is.
· Do not request too much information, since children are taught not to give out information to people they don't know.
· If you have access to a cell phone, contact the authorities to report the incident.
· Try to find someone in a position of authority nearby who can assist.
· Do not take the child far from the immediate location.
· Do not take the child in your car to go find help.
· Ask people passing by to assist.
· Wait with the child until help arrives.

CAINE: What can one do if separated from their children during a natural disaster, such as a tornado or hurricane?

MNF: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reminds families that it's important to plan for your family's safety. Families may become separated during the chaos of a natural disaster, especially when evacuation is required. NCMEC offers the following recommendations to all families potentially impacted by a natural disaster:

· Know where your kids are at all times.
· Stay together.
· Take photos of your children with you when evacuated.
· Give children identification information to carry with them, including the child's name, date of birth, address, phone numbers, etc. If a child is too young or otherwise unable to speak for him-or herself, consider writing his/her name, date of birth, parents' names, home address, and telephone/cell numbers somewhere on the child's body in indelible marker.
· E-mail digital photos of all family members to extended relatives and/or friends.
· Photocopy important documents and mail to a friend/relative in a safe location.
· Make a plan with your children, so they know what to do if your family becomes separated during an evacuation.

National Emergency Child Locator Center
In October 2006, Congress and President George W. Bush created the National Emergency Child Locator Center (NECLC). NECLC will be operated by NCMEC when a national disaster is declared by the President, to assist in the location of children and the reunification of families resulting from the disaster or subsequent evacuations. In the event of a natural disaster, the National Emergency Child Locator Center will:

· Establish a toll-free hotline to receive reports of displaced children;
· Create a website to provide information about displaced children;
· Deploy staff to the location of a declared disaster area to gather information about displaced children;
· Provide information to the public about additional resources;
· Partner with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies; and
· Refer reports of displaced adults to the Attorney General's designated authority and the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System.

CAINE: What information should children be given in order to help them avoid being abducted?

MNF: Here are some rules for younger children:

· I KNOW my name, address, telephone number, and my parents' names.
· I always CHECK FIRST with my parents or the person in charge. I tell them before I go anywhere or get into a car, even with someone I know.
· I always CHECK FIRST with my parents or a trusted adult before I accept anything from anyone, even from someone I know.
· I always TAKE A FRIEND with me when I go places or play outside.
· I SAY NO if someone tries to touch me or treat me in a way that makes me feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. It's OK to SAY NO, and I KNOW that there will always be someone who can help me.
· I KNOW that I can TELL my parents or a trusted adult if I feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.
·I am STRONG, SMART, and have the right to be SAFE.

The rules for older children:

· DON'T GO OUT ALONE. There is safety in numbers. This rule isn't just for little kids, it applies to teens, too.
· ALWAYS TELL AN ADULT WHERE YOU'RE GOING. Letting someone know where you'll be at all times is smart. If you're faced with a risky situation or get into trouble, your family and friends will know where to find you.
· SAY NO IF YOU FEEL THREATENED. If someone—anyone—touches you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, you have the right to say no. Whether it is pressure about sex, drugs, or doing something that you know is wrong, be strong and stand your ground.

CAUTION. COMMUNICATION. CONFIDENCE.

CAINE: There has been increasing concern about giving children an overly acute sense of "stranger danger". In what ways can children be educated about the dangers of possible abduction without making them paranoid and frightened of the world around them?

MNF: Please refer to the following article:

CHILD SAFETY IS MORE THAN A SLOGAN
"Stranger-Danger" Warnings Not Effective at Keeping Kids Safer
By Nancy A. McBride, National Safety Director, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

"Stranger danger"-the phrase is so pervasive in our culture that it has become part of the lexicon. Well-intentioned adults perpetuate this misguided message, and the media often uses it as a slogan. A recent case illustrates how literal children may be when given a specific message. The child in this case may have evaded his rescuers, because he had been taught "not to talk to strangers."

This case and many others clearly illustrate how literal children may be when given a specific message. That's why the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has never supported the "stranger-danger" message, especially because experience has shown us that most children are actually taken by someone they know or are familiar with.

So what does "stranger danger" really mean, and do children benefit from an outdated and incomplete message? Here's what we have learned about the "stranger-danger" concept:

· Children don't get it.
· Adults don't practice it.
· It doesn't go far enough in protecting children from potential danger.

When questioned, children will often describe a "stranger" as someone who is "ugly or mean." They don't perceive nice-looking or friendly people as "strangers". And if someone talks to a child or is even around a child more than once, that person loses his or her "stranger" status. The child then thinks he or she "knows" the person. Children also want to be helpful, thrive on adult approval, and respond to adult authority. So, if someone with ill intent asks them to perform a task or tells them something has happened to a loved one, chances are good the child can be tricked.

The "stranger-danger" message becomes even more confusing for children since they can't tell by looking at someone whether or not the person is "good" or "bad". Wouldn't it be great if we could point out the "bad" people to our children and be done with it? Whether it's in a grocery store or at a baseball game, adults break the rule of "don't talk to strangers" all the time. But adults have the benefit of experience, judgment, and decision-making skills; children do not. And sometimes adults are wrong. So, if we can't identify "bad" people, we certainly can't expect our children to.

Today, kids need to be empowered with positive messages and safety skills that will build their self esteem and self confidence while helping to keep them safer. Kids don't need to be told the world is a scary place. They watch the news, hear adults talking, and may even experience violence firsthand. Rather, they need to know their parent, guardian, or another trusted adult is there for them if they are in trouble, and most adults they encounter in their lives are basically good people.

When we tell children to "never talk to strangers", we have effectively eliminated a key source of help for them if they are in trouble. If they’re lost they may be surrounded by many "strangers" who could conceivably help them if they would only ask for it. Since we know parents and guardians can't be with their children every second of the day, we need to give children "safety nets" of people they can go to if they need help. Those individuals may include uniformed law-enforcement or security officers; a store salesperson with a nametag; the person in an information booth at a mall or other public venue; or a mother with children.

In specific situations such as being lost outside, the safety messages need to be tailored to those circumstances.

· A child should never wander away from where they first became lost. If they stay put, chances are better that they will be found more quickly.
· If that place becomes too dangerous because of severe weather or another threatening situation, children should go to the nearest safe spot and wait for rescuers.
· Children should make noise either by yelling, blowing a whistle, or just attracting attention. This will help in bringing someone to their rescue.

Parents and guardians can make child safety part of a child's everyday life in a nonthreatening way by practicing some of these skills. Whether it's checking first with a trusted adult, taking a friend, or avoiding and getting out of dangerous situations, there are easy "what if" scenarios to practice with your children to make sure they "get it". Make outings to a mall or park an opportunity to reinforce these skills. That way they won't have to wonder what to do if lost or in danger. Do this on a regular basis to make sure it becomes second nature. At the same time reassure them you are there for them, and remind them there are other people who can help.

NCMEC believes the time is now for our society to retire the "stranger-danger" message; realize child safety is much more important than a slogan; and make sure we are arming our children with relevant, age-appropriate messages that will empower them. Remember, there is nothing on earth that beats our parental, guardian, and caregiver supervision and attention in helping to keep our children safer.

For more safety information and free publications for families go to missingkids.com or call NCMEC's 24-hour toll-free hotline at 1-800.843.5678.

© 2005 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). All rights reserved.

CAINE: What are some of the accomplishments of the Morgan Nick Foundation?

MNF: We provided prevention education to 850,000+ Arkansas students, and were instrumental in a Federal Mandate signed by President Clinton for missing children. We co-authored Family Survival Guide, a resource manual for law enforcement and families to use when a child is missing. The guide is provided through OJJDP. Since 1995, MNF has provided services to more than 3,500 missing children and family members. And we were instrumental in the formation of the Morgan Nick AMBER Alert in Arkansas, as well as the MN AMBER Alert Command Center located at State Police Headquarters in Little Rock.

The "Picture Them Home Campaign" in partnership with NCMEC has placed photos of missing children on the backs of police cruisers, resulting in the successful recovery of missing children.

Additionally, we have promoted the following:

50 hours of teacher in-service training to Arkansas teachers, counselors, and principals
96 hours of real-life, on the street, runaway prevention education-serving 525+ young people
Intensive three-day seminars for victim families of missing children
On-site support during the trial phase for the family of a kidnapped and murdered child
On-site support when a child is missing for victim families, coordination with law enforcement during the search, and liaison with the media, resulting in the safe recovery and return of missing children.
Free digital photo IDs to 100,000+ children.

CAINE: What are some other programs that the Morgan Nick Foundation offers?

MNF: We believe that to reduce the number of child abductions in the future, we must educate our children and empower them with the skills necessary to protect them from the possible dangers of abduction. We provide free safety skills and abduction prevention education to children, parents, teachers and communities. MNF utilizes a safety curriculum entitled "NetSmartz", provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, as well as a free curriculum, "Keys to Safety" provided by the Arkansas Attorney General's Office.

Our newest program is the "Picture Them Home" campaign. This campaign is an ongoing initiative to raise awareness about the power of pictures and their importance in the search for missing children. Since pictures are a proven, effective tool, it is our goal to have them featured in as many different outlets as possible. Currently, we have photos displayed in the back windows of police cruisers and business vehicles. This initiative was started by the Morgan Nick Foundation as a weapon in the fight to bring missing children home. Over 2000 children are reported missing in the United States every day. We know that one in six of these children will come home as a result of someone recognizing their photo. It is our hope that with this campaign the recovery rate will increase significantly, and more children will come safely home. We now have 150 different children featured on 95 vehicles within 10 law enforcement agencies and 6 businesses in 4 different states.

CAINE: We invite the audience to once again review the following contact information. These are organizations to which people can turn for help if their children are missing:

National Center For Missing and Exploited Children:
1-800-THE-LOST or missingkids.com.

National Runaway Switchboard: 1-800-RUNAWAY or 1800runaway.org.