our impact | missing children

Every Missing Child Has a Story

When a child disappears, it doesn’t always look like what you see on the news.
Most missing kids aren’t taken by strangers; many aren’t abducted at all.
They leave homes, foster placements, or schools quietly, often unseen and misunderstood.

But every child who disappears faces serious risks: exploitation, trafficking, and harm that grows each minute they’re away.

NCPTF helps communities find missing children faster, understand what led them to disappear, and respond with trauma-informed support. Because every missing child deserves to be found, listened to, and helped.

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Endangered runaways reported who were likely victims of child sex trafficking.
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Youth ages 13-17 experienced a form of homelessness over a 12-month period
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In the U.S. there are over 460,000 missing children reported each year.

Missing children aren't just statistics—they're real kids in urgent need of protection.

While many envision abductions by strangers, the reality is far more complex and often closer to home. Understanding the true scope of the issue is the first step toward meaningful action.

Find + Listen + Help

The National Child Protection Task Force responds to the crisis of missing children with urgent, trauma-informed action through rapid-response law enforcement support and Missing Child Rescue Operations.

We shift the narrative from "runaway" or "troubled youth" to "endangered child," closing gaps left by overwhelmed systems.

Every operation identifies missing children, supports their safe recovery, and strengthens the communities responsible for their protection.

Find

NCPTF's experts deploy to a community to help law enforcement and social services locate missing and exploited children.

Listen

We help communities better engage their most vulnerable children to understand their experiences and needs.

Help

And finally, rescued children are connected with resources for recovery, including medical care, counseling, and safe housing.

this is how we create better outcomes for missing, exploited, and trafficked kids

On Average, Missing Child Rescue Operations Locate 17 Missing Endangered Children Each Day

Help power the search

"We're changing the minds and perspectives of everybody involved. Every child—any child who goes missing—should be considered endangered until you can prove otherwise."

Cindy Neff

Long-time Manager of the New York DCJS Missing Persons Clearinghouse

Capital Region Missing Child Rescue Operation New York
NCPTF & New York DCJS Missing Persons Clearinghouse | March 2025​

Every investigation. Every rescue. Every strengthened system. It all happens because people like you believe in a future where vulnerable children are protected.

Your support allows us to expand Missing Child Rescue Operations to new communities, provide critical resources, and accelerate investigations when every second counts.

📩 Sign up for updates. Follow our impact and hear real rescue stories.
💙 Send encouragement Write a note to the professionals on the front lines.
💰 Donate Help us bring rescue operations to even more communities.

Capital Region Missing Child Rescue Operation New York
Knowledge is Power

First-Ever Capital Region Missing Child Rescue Operation Results in Successful Location of 64* Children and Teens Reported as Runaways

In a historic operation, 64 missing children were located in the Capital Region of New York through a collaborative effort involving NCPTF, law enforcement, and support services. This rescue mission in the Capital Region brought together expertise from more than 60 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private partners to transform the lives of vulnerable kids and strengthen future efforts to protect our communities.

Perspectives from Buffalo
Knowledge is Power

Perspectives from the Buffalo, NY Missing Child Rescue Operation

Over just three days, NCPTF & partners helped the Buffalo, New York community locate 47 missing children, addressing not only their immediate safety but also the underlying factors that led them to go missing. This operation showcased the power of collaboration and remarkable results when dedicated individuals commit to creating long-term solutions for vulnerable children.

What 47 Missing Kids Reveal About a Nationwide crisis
Knowledge is Power

What 47 Missing Kids Reveal About A Nationwide Crisis

When people hear that we helped locate 47 missing kids in Erie County, New York, the first reaction is often disbelief. “How is that even possible? Why wasn’t I aware of 47 missing kids?”

Runaway Youth: What You Need to Know and How You Can Help
Knowledge is Power

“Runaway” Youth: What you need to know and how you can help – with Melissa Kaiser, LBSW

Runaway youth are often misunderstood, viewed as “rebellious” or “troubled,” but behind every runaway is a story of pain, fear, or a desperate need to survive. Instead of judging these youth, we need to see their actions as a call for help and understand that they often run from unsafe environments or toward perceived love and acceptance. By changing the narrative and offering compassion, guidance, and support, we can empower these young people to seek safety, find their voice, and build brighter futures.

Buffalo NY Missing People Located NCPTF NYS DCJS Missing Persons Clearinghouse Joint Operation
Knowledge is Power

The Groundbreaking Child Recovery Event in Buffalo, NY

In cities across America, thousands of children remain missing, but innovative collaboration can change that. During the first-ever Missing Child Recovery Event, the National Child Protection Task Force (NCPTF) and a coalition of agencies tackled 50 missing child cases, recovering 41 kids in a single week. This groundbreaking event in Buffalo, NY, is transforming how law enforcement agencies fight child trafficking and exploitation. Learn how NCPTF is breaking down silos, using advanced technology, and forging new partnerships to bring missing kids home.

Buffalo NY Missing People Located NCPTF NYS DCJS Missing Persons Clearinghouse Joint Operation
Knowledge is Power

New York State’s First-Ever Missing Child Rescue Operation Results in Successful Location of 47 Children Reported Missing in Erie County

In a historic operation, 47 missing children were located in Erie County through a collaborative effort involving NCPTF, law enforcement, and support services. This first-of-its-kind rescue mission in New York brought together expertise from 22 public and private entities, transforming lives and strengthening future efforts to protect our kids.

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the latest from NCPTF

Be the first to know when kids are found, cases are solved, and new missions launch. Sign up for real-time updates from NCPTF.

Your generous support helps create better outcomes for missing kids, nationwide.

The National Child Protection Task Force is a registered 501(c)(3)

EIN: 83-3384898

PO Box 2934
Fayetteville, ARKANSAS
72702 (USA)

Support a Protector Today—It Only Takes a Moment.

At our next Missing Child Rescue Operation, we’re hand-delivering messages of encouragement to the law enforcement officers and social workers on the front lines.

✉️ Take 60 seconds to send a quick note today. A few words can make all the difference.