Polly Klaas Foundation

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RESPONSE DEPARTMENT CASEWORK SERVICES -THE POLLY KLAAS FOUNDATION HAS ASSISTED OVER 10,000 FAMILIES AND HUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THEIR SEARCH FOR MISSING AND ABDUCTED CHILDREN. SINCE INCEPTION WE HAVE SEEN AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THOSE CHILDREN RETURN HOME SAFELY. THE RESPONSE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR EACH TYPE OF MISSING CHILD CASE, ALL OF WHICH ARE GEARED TOWARD THE RECOVERY AND SAFE RETURN OF THE CHILD.24 HOUR HOTLINE - STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WORK WITH FAMILIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.NATIONAL FLYER DISTRIBUTION - CASE-SPECIFIC FLYER DISTRIBUTION ANYWHERE IN THE NATION, WITHIN A MATTER OF HOURS. DECISIONS ABOUT FLYER DISTRIBUTIONS ARE MADE AS A TEAM EFFORT BETWEEN THE FOUNDATION, THE PARENT AND THE LEAD AGENCY IN THE INVESTIGATION.LOCAL AND/OR NATIONAL MEDIA EXPOSURE - FURTHER EXPOSURE FOR A CASE IS ACHIEVED BY PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING PRESS RELEASES AND BY DOING LIVE OR TAPED RADIO, TELEVISION OR PRINT INTERVIEWS. WE HAVE ASSISTED FAMILIES BY EITHER WORKING ON THEIR BEHALF WITH THE MEDIA OR BY COACHING THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS.INTAKE AND TRANSMISSION OF LEADS AND TIPS TO THE LEAD AGENCY - PUBLIC LEADS ARE IMMEDIATELY FORWARDED TO THE INVESTIGATING AGENCY. WE HAVE STRICT POLICIES REGARDING CONFIDENTIALITY AND RELY SOLELY ON THE INVESTIGATING AGENCY TO DETERMINE THE NECESSITY OF FOLLOW-UP ON ANY LEAD.INTERNATIONAL WEBSITE EXPOSURE - IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT PICTURES HELP IN THE RECOVERY OF MISSING CHILDREN. WITH WWW.POLLYKLAAS.ORG RECEIVING OVER A HALF A MILLION HITS PER MONTH, MISSING CHILD CASES GAIN A REMARKABLE AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE.NATIONWIDE RESOURCES - THE FOUNDATION HAS EXCELLENT WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER CHILD FIND AGENCIES, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE NATION.FAMILY SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE - OUR ROLE IN MISSING CHILD CASES INVOLVES ADVISING FAMILIES ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHAT STEPS THEY NEED TO BE TAKING, PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, MAINTAINING ON-GOING CONTACT IN LONG TERM CASES, AND HELPING TO RETAIN A POSITIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE MEDIA AND THE COMMUNITY. THE FOUNDATION CAN ALSO ASSIST FAMILIES AFTER THEIR CHILDREN RETURN HOME BY PROVIDING COUNSELING REFERRALS AND EXTENDED CASE MANAGEMENT AS NECESSARY.

RAPID RESPONSE TEAM EVOLUNTEERS -MOMS, DADS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS THROUGHOUT THE NATION WHO SIGN UP AS RRT EVOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN THE EFFORTS TO FIND MISSING CHILDREN BY RECEIVING OFFICIAL EMAILS WITH LINKS TO MISSING CHILD POSTERS. THEY DOWNLOAD THE POSTERS, PRINT THEM ON THEIR PERPREVENTION/EDUCATION - CHILD SAFETY KITS - THE CHILD SAFETY KIT IS THE FOUNDATION'S FLAGSHIP PUBLICATION AND THE PRINCIPAL VEHICLE FOR MISSION FULFILLMENT IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION AND ABDUCTION PREVENTION. THE KIT INCLUDES 28 PAGES OF POSITIVE, ENCOURAGING GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS ON HOW TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN TO STAY SAFE "WITHOUT SCARING YOUR CHILD OR YOURSELF."BY COMMUNICATING A HOPEFUL MESSAGE TO PARENTS, THE CHILD SAFETY KIT UNBLOCKS THE PARALYZING FEAR OF STRANGER ABDUCTION, AND MODELS WAYS FOR PARENTS TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN HOW NOT TO GO MISSING OR, IF CHILDREN DO GET LOST OR SEPARATED, HOW TO ASK FOR HELP. THE CHILD SAFETY KIT GIVES PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL'S POWERFUL TEACHING TOOLS THAT STRONGLY SUPPORTS FAMILY INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNICATION.AS MEMBERS OF THE SONOMA COUNTY HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE, THE FOUNDATION ALSO HOSTS TRAININGS ON THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS TO REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE FOUNDATION HAS PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS OF TRAINING (POST) CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS TO CREATE CURRICULUM AND ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE RECOVERY OF ENDANGERED/AT-RISK RUNAWAYS AND MISSING CHILDREN.SONAL COMPUTERS, AND THEN DISTRIBUTE THEM WITHIN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THESE EFFORTS CONTINUE TO BE INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE IN LOCATING MISSING CHILDREN AND BRINGING THEM HOME SAFELY.

THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY EDUCATION FOR MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHICH PROVIDES EDUCATION ON HOW TO BE SAFE ONLINE.THE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW-MAKERS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT LEGISLATION THAT KEEP CHILDREN SAFE. THE RENOVATION OF THE POLLY KLAAS COMMUNITY THEATER WAS COMPLETED IN OCTOBER OF 2022 AND HAS SINCE BEEN THE HOST TO SEVERAL YOUTHBASED PERFORMING ARTISTS. THE DEMAND FOR THIS SPACE WAS HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED, AND WE ARE DELIGHTED WITH ITS EARLY SUCCESS IN PROVIDING A MUCHNEEDED SPACE FOR YOUTHBASED PERFORMANCES AND AFTERSCHOOL THEATER PROGRAMS.

RAPID RESPONSE TEAM EVOLUNTEERS -MOMS, DADS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS THROUGHOUT THE NATION WHO SIGN UP AS RRT EVOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN THE EFFORTS TO FIND MISSING CHILDREN BY RECEIVING OFFICIAL EMAILS WITH LINKS TO MISSING CHILD POSTERS. THEY DOWNLOAD THE POSTERS, PRINT THEM ON THEIR PERSONAL COMPUTERS, AND THEN DISTRIBUTE THEM WITHIN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THESE EFFORTS CONTINUE TO BE INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE IN LOCATING MISSING CHILDREN AND BRINGING THEM HOME SAFELY.