OJJDP observes National Missing Children's Day annually on May 25, to honor the efforts to recover missing children, support their families, and raise awareness about child safety. This year, OJJDP commemorated National Missing Children’s Day on May 22 with an event in Washington, DC, bringing together survivors, families, federal partners, and allied professionals dedicated to addressing the crisis of missing and exploited children.
The event showcased several OJJDP-funded initiatives including the newly released guide created by and for siblings of missing children, as well as cornerstone programs such as the AMBER Alert system, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force network, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
A highlight of the commemoration was the announcement of the winner of OJJDP’s National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest, which invites fifth-grade students nationwide to illustrate the theme, "Bringing Our Missing Children Home Safely.” This year’s winner, 11-year-old Jax S. from Wellston, OH, was honored in person alongside his family. Jax’s powerful artwork depicting the pain of separation, and the hope of reunification will serve as the design inspiration for OJJDP’s 2026 National Missing Children’s Day logo.
- View the 2025 Winning State Posters.
- Visit OJJDP's Missing Children's Day Resources webpage.
- Read the latest What About Me? Finding Your Path Forward When Your Brother or Sister Is Missing – 2nd Edition.
- Follow OJJDP on X formerly known as Twitter and Facebook.