Respond when something goes wrong
Choose the appropriate help route without making a child retell everything.
Academy overviewUnderstand
Different services handle different concerns. Report a missing child to local law enforcement immediately, then contact NCMEC. Suspected child sexual exploitation has a CyberTipline route. Arkansas also has a Child Abuse Hotline.
NCMEC: if your child is missing
What to watch for
Do not let uncertainty about the perfect label become a reason to delay urgent help. Separate immediate danger from questions that can be discussed after safety is addressed.
What to do
Open the help navigator and compare two fictional situations. Identify the appropriate service and the information it requests. Keep relevant information private and share it through the official reporting channel.
What to avoid
Do not submit a report through this website or post a child’s identifying details in public comments. Do not ask a child to download or forward intimate material.
Talk about it
“Thank you for telling me. I will help you find the right person to talk to.”
Practice
Using made-up circumstances, compare a missing-child concern with school bullying. Write the different next steps and identify when immediate danger would change the response.
Check your understanding
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Show the answer
Correct answer: No; contact local law enforcement immediately
An online listing is not the first reporting step. Contact law enforcement promptly.
Take one idea with you
Choose one activity to try before your next lesson.