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National Missing Children's Day

About the Poster Contest

40th Annual National Missing Children's Day - May 25, 2023

With the theme of "Bringing Our Missing Children Home," OJJDP invites fifth graders each year to participate in the National Missing Children's Day poster contest. The winning poster is the inspiration for the National Missing Children's Day poster and artwork for the following year.

Entries for the 40th annual National Missing Children's Day poster contest are no longer being accepted.

The contest creates an opportunity for schools, law enforcement, and child advocates to discuss the issue of missing and exploited children with youth and their families and to promote child safety.

Each state hosts its own poster competition and submits the winning entry to OJJDP for the national contest. The winning poster artwork inspires the National Missing Children's Day logo design for the following year's event. 

Contest Submission Information

OJJDP's Missing and Exploited Children's Training and Technical Assistance Program and the National Criminal Justice Training Center at Fox Valley Technical College collaborate with OJJDP to coordinate the poster contest each year. Go to the poster contest packet

Contest rules, contact information for state contest managers, discussion materials, and additional information are available each fall. Prospective participants should check with their state contest managers for the state submission deadlines. 

2023 Winning Poster

The 2023 National Missing Children's Day poster contest winner is Ayoub A. in New York, NY.