Menendez Introduces Funding for Missing Person Alert Program

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) reintroduced legislation Monday morning which would provide $5 million in grant funding to a national alert program called "A Child is Missing" (ACIM).

The nonprofit helps find missing people—children, teens and the elderly. This is the third time the senator has proposed this legislation; it was previously blocked in the Senate.

Sherry Friedlander, who founded the program in 1997, said law enforcement officials give the organization information about the missing person, and ACIM then makes phone calls to homes and businesses throughout the area.

“We use ZIP codes and a satellite mapping system to collect phone numbers,” said Friedlander. “We can make 1,000 calls in a minute in the area of the missing person.”

Friedlander said she has worked with U.S. Marshals and the FBI locating missing children and seniors throughout the nation.

“The program has been in New Jersey for only two years,” said Friedlander, “and we have had seven safe-assisted recoveries.”

When a person goes missing, a law enforcement official calls an 800 number and provides information on the missing child or senior citizen—age, clothes, physical description, etc.

“A Child is Missing alert differs from an Amber alert,” said Friedlander. “With an Amber alert, certain criteria is needed like license plate, description of car and possible foul play. And, it is only used for children under 18.”

Friedlander said the training course lasts about an hour, and her offices supply the materials and a video to share with the community.

Training of law enforcement officials in Moorestown was to have begun yesterday.

President and CEO Jerry Nugent of the Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey, which offers senior care services and community residences for the elderly on Main Street, as well as across the state, supports any programs that keep participants safe and free of harm.

“In the case of a missing senior or child, the most crucial time for locating them is the first 24 hours," said Nugent. "Broad-scale communication to assist in the safe return of a missing or lost person could be a valuable and life-saving tool to the state of New jersey.”

The grant would also aid in continuing educational programs for law enforcement across the state.

"Saving the lives of elders suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's and children unable to protect themselves, should be a top priority of the state," said Nugent.