Child ID kits have evolved over the years to be more accurate and sophisticated; however, they do not protect children.  Child ID kits are most effective when used as part of a larger child safety program.

Unfortunately a number of ID kits use fear as a selling point.  According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention publication National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Throwaway Children (NISMAST-2), the vast majority of missing children are temporarily lost and are found within 24-48 hours or have been taken by family members.  (See http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/196465.pdf for additional statistics)

AMECO members are not aware of any child id kits that have led to the safe recovery of a child; however, members do concur that current photos are the most successful tool for finding missing children.

Many AMECO members have developed their own Child ID kits while others have developed partnerships with responsible for-profit companies that produce quality kits.  Therefore AMECO does not endorse any one particular product but does recommend the use of a quality Child ID kit incorporated into a proven child safety education program.

Keeping accurate, complete and up-to-date records of your child is critical when supplying information to law enforcement for investigation. Your child's ID Kit should include:

• Your child's complete name and any nickname.
• Physical information: age, height, weight, gender, hair color and length, and eye color, etc.
• Other identifiable information: location of scars, birthmarks, glasses, braces, scars, bruises, broken bones, tattoos, etc.
• Medical history, including any medicine that might be needed.
• Recent pictures: Be sure to keep updated color photos of your child. The most useful photos are clear candid photos, front and side views, updated yearly.
• A list of your child's friends, teachers, bus drivers, babysitters, and their phone numbers.
• Your child's hobbies and hangouts.
• Your child's email addresses and web sites (i.e. his/her MySpace or Facebook accounts etc.)

In addition, AMECO recommends that you secure the following forensic indicators for effective search, recovery and rescue:

• Secure and store fingerprints. Fingerprints can be recorded on a standard fingerprint card with ink or through state-of-the-art digital technology. AMECO advises all parents to secure a copy of your child's fingerprints and further recommends that the prints be taken by a certified fingerprint technician for the most reliable results.
• Secure and store a scent article. Have your child remove a piece of clothing that he or she has been wearing all day (a sock provides an excellent sample) and have the child place it in an envelope. Do not allow anyone but the child who wore the article of clothing to touch it or the envelope. Store the envelope in a safe deposit box or temperature controlled container. A scent article stored in this manner should last indefinitely.
• Secure and store a DNA sample.

1. Blood drops can be collected using sterile cotton. As an alternative, you  can wait until your child gets a cut or scrape. Collect the blood sample on a band-aid. Completely dry before storing.
2. Baby teeth.
3. Hair with root.

Wrap each sample separately in dry paper. Place each sample in a separate paper envelope (never use plastic). The envelope should be sealed with tape covering each seam. Place the initials of the collector and sample date on the envelope touching both the tape and the envelope using permanent ink. Each envelop should clearly indicate the child's name, the name of the person who collected the sample, and the date the sample was collected. Store in a safe deposit box or temperature controlled container. DNA samples stored in this manner should last indefinitely.

AMECO thanks the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification for expert contribution to this recommendation.

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As an international association of nonprofit organizations, AMECO provides a unified voice on issues related to missing and exploited children and their families, and nurtures credible, ethical, and effective nonprofit member organizations.

The development of this publication was supported by Grant No. 2008-MC-CX-K014 and 2009-MC-CX-K035 awarded to AMECO by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.