Daryl Fox: Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the May 29, 2024, installment of “Today in Juvenile Justice: Administrator Update.” We’re glad you’re able to join us today. All audio lines are muted, as this is a listen-only briefing. For reference, this recording will be posted tomorrow to the OJJDP website. At this time, it’s my pleasure to introduce Liz Ryan, OJJDP Administrator, for today’s update.
Liz Ryan: Hello, my name is Liz Ryan. I am the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, or OJJDP. Welcome to Today in Juvenile Justice!
After the observances of Mother’s Day and National Missing Children’s Day earlier this month, I was reminded of the sheer strength and tenacity of mothers who have lost children, but who nevertheless summon their inner strength to support other families confronting the same tragic experience.
During our National Missing Children’s Day commemoration, we heard from Patty Wetterling whose 11-year-old son Jacob was abducted and murdered in 1989.
After navigating through the darkness of her own pain, Patty decided to “fight for the world that Jacob knew and loved. A world that was fair and kind and safe for kids.” Her words.
Today, Patty’s tireless advocacy to raise awareness about the harsh realities of child abduction and exploitation has become a national beacon of hope, providing emotional strength and solace to thousands of families grappling with the loss of a child.
Every year, about 375,000 children go missing in the United States. By centering the voices of families who have experienced the loss of a child, OJJDP ensures that our programs, training and technical assistance, and resources meet their needs.
As part of our National Missing Children’s Day commemoration each year, we meet with members of the Family Roundtable—a group of parents, siblings, and family members, who share their experiences and who work to support other families by developing resources like the family survival guide released last year.
And its companion sibling’s guide, What About Me? Finding Your Path Forward When Your Brother or Sister Is Missing, developed by 10 siblings who experienced the loss of a brother or sister. This guide will be released later this year.
Through these essential resources, families can access support and information, including help that is available through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, also known as NCMEC.
With funding from OJJDP, NCMEC provides technical assistance, services to victims, families, and the public, as well as support to law enforcement agencies in cases involving missing and exploited children to include those missing from state care, such as foster care and group homes.
Federal law now requires states to immediately submit reports on children or youth missing or abducted from state care to law enforcement agencies and to NCMEC.
A recent NCEMC report shows that thousands of these children and young adults go missing from state care each year. They are often endangered runaways fleeing foster care or a group home and can end up running from one unsafe situation to another.
Because of their unique circumstances, OJJDP is working closely with NCMEC to better understand this population and ensure their health and well-being.
During the commemoration, a panel of experts—including a youth advocate with lived experience in the foster care system—discussed the question, “Why do so many children and young adults go missing from state care?”
The panelists shared that youth run away from state care for various reasons, including abuse or neglect, poor placement matches, or the desire to reunite with their families.
Among the key recommendations from the panelists were forging stronger connections with youth through mentorship, as well as enhancing collaboration among state and local government agencies, and child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
Providing comprehensive support during and after exiting the foster care system is crucial, which is why we also want to ensure that youth leaving foster care have access to services and resources essential to building a successful future.
OJJDP’s Supporting Vulnerable and At-Risk Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care program is designed to help vulnerable youth up to age 25 obtain permanent housing, health care, vocational skills, and treatment services for mental health or substance use issues.
The program aims to establish pilot programs that offer comprehensive support through residential-based innovative care, treatment, and services to help at-risk youth build successful futures.
OJJDP will continue to work with our partners to support youth who are in or transitioning out of state care.
Now for “Ask the Administrator!”
We get quite a few questions about what to do when a child goes missing, in addition to reports of child abduction. OJJDP is not a law enforcement agency, so our first response is always to call 911, immediately. We also encourage people to call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST which is 1-800-843-5678, to learn more about the resources available to help find a missing child.
Before I forget, please subscribe to our JUVJUST listserv to receive the latest updates from OJJDP and notification of when the new siblings’ guide is released. Just go to ojjdp.ojp.gov/subscribe.
Thank you for joining me today.
Our next call is scheduled for June 20, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET when we will discuss racial equity and fairness in the juvenile justice system.
