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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.

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

Fifth graders are invited to submit their entries for the 41st annual National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest. Find information about the 2024 contest from the following resources: 

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. 

Prospective participants should check with their state contest managers for the state submission deadlines. Posters entries must be submitted to your state contest manager for local judging by the submissions deadline. 

To find out how to contact your state manager, contact the National Poster Contest Manager Ali Smith at [email protected].

2023 Winning Poster

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