Chapter 4 : Section 8

Locating Runaway Children

Procedures

Implementation

Upon notification that a child has runaway, the Hotline will notify the Missing, Abducted and Runaway Children (MARC) Unit.

Within 24 hours of receiving notification that a child has runaway, the Department will ensure that a report has been made to the local law enforcement agency and obtain the DR number of the law enforcement report.

The MARC Specialist shall provide the following information to the law enforcement agency:

• a complete physical description of the child, such as height, weight, sex, ethnicity, race, hair color, eye color and other identifying characteristics and a description of the clothing the child was last known to be wearing;

• information that a youth may be at an increased risk including pregnancy status, prescription medications, mental health conditions, suicidal ideations, vulnerability to being sex trafficked, and any other health or risk factors;

• the last known location of the child;

• a description of any vehicle that may be involved with the child’s disappearance;

• current photos of the child; and

• the law enforcement telephone number and information about any rewards offered, if known.

The MARC Specialist shall request that the appropriate law enforcement agency determine if the situation meets AMBER Alert or Silver Alert criteria.

Immediately, and in no case later than 24 hours, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) to add the missing or abducted child to their database. An online report may be made by visiting: https://cmfc.missingkids.org/reportit.

The MARC Specialist will provide the following information to NCMEC when available:

• a current photo of the youth;

• description of the youth's physical appearance; such as height, weight, sex, ethnicity, race, hair color, eye color and other identifying characteristics; and

• information that a youth may be at an increased risk including pregnancy status, prescription medications, mental health conditions, suicidal ideations, vulnerability to being sex trafficked, and any other health or risk factors.

The MARC Specialist shall immediately contact the following, telephonically and in writing, to provide notice of the child’s disappearance from care and to obtain information about the child’s disappearance from care and to obtain information about the child's disappearance, unless the primary investigative agency has determined that contact will hinder the investigation or locate efforts:

• the child’s parents;

• the child’s known relatives;

• the child’s attorney and/or guardian ad litem;

• the child’s out-of-home caregiver;

• the child’s court appointed special advocate (CASA);

• a judicial officer in any judicial matter involving the child; and

• if applicable, the child’s tribe.

The MARC Specialist will also contact the following individuals or entities within 24 hours of receiving information that the child has been abducted to obtain information about the child’s disappearance, unless the primary investigative agency determines it will hinder the investigation or locate efforts:

• the child’s school;

• the child’s friends;

• any prior caregivers that the child may have contacted; and

• other persons that may have information on the whereabouts of the child.

The DCS Specialist and MARC Specialist will maintain communication to share any information gathered regarding the child’s disappearance or whereabouts.

The MARC Specialist will contact law enforcement every seven calendar days until the child is located or reaches the age of majority and document the information provided and received.

The MARC Specialist will determine if the child meets at-risk criteria and submit a OCWI Analyst Unit Research Referral for a Missing, Abducted, or Runaway Child, DCS-2454 to OCWI for assistance in locating a runaway child when one or more of the following circumstances exist:

• The child is suicidal.

• The child has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness, is prescribed medication for the mental illness and may pose a danger to self and/or others if not receiving treatment and medication as prescribed.

• The child suffers from a serious physical illness and is prescribed medication, which if not available or administered properly, could place the child at risk of serious physical harm.

• The child is pregnant.

• Other specific child safety concerns exist (i.e., child 13 or younger, child is with a known perpetrator of abuse or neglect, child is significantly developmentally delayed, etc.).

• The child is known to be, or is at risk of becoming, a victim of sex trafficking. Risk factors include but are not limited to: substance abuse, gang affiliation, delinquency, previous victimization.

The MARC Specialist will email the pick-up order and/or warrant along with the completed OCWI Analyst Unit Research Referral for a Missing, Abducted, or Runaway Child, DCS-2454 to OCWI.

The DCS Specialist (or other staff as approved by the DCS Program Supervisor) will complete the following within 24 hours:

• Make a home visit to attempt contact with any identified parent, relative, household member or other significant person the child may have contacted.

• Contact the duty Assistant Attorney General to initiate a motion for an order to pick up the child. A pick-up order is still required in situations where a warrant has already been or may be issued.

If the child remains on missing or runaway status for seven days, terminate all service requests. Do not end date the removal.

If the child remains on runaway status and is not able to be located for a period of 30 days or longer, the DCS Specialist (or other staff as approved by the DCS Program Supervisor) must complete the following every 30 days:

• Re-contact the child's previous out-of-home care providers to obtain any pertinent information in locating the child.

• Re-contact the child's previous school (if enrolled prior to running away) and obtain any pertinent information for locating the child.

• Re-contact the child's parents, guardians or custodians, household members, known relatives and other significant persons to obtain any pertinent information for locating the child.

• Re-contact NCMEC to obtain or provide updated information for locating the child.

• Re-visit the home of any identified parent, relative, or other significant person the child may have contacted or other locations the child is known to have visited and is likely to be found.

• Request welfare checks at any location where the child may be.

• Continue search efforts with Department staff who have access to databases that may help in locating the child.

If the child remains on missing or runaway status for two or more years, the Department shall contact the NCMEC case manager to confirm that an age-progression image has been developed for the child.

If a position to dismiss the Dependency Petition is being taken by a party to the case, consult with the assigned Assistant Attorney General.

The Department shall not agree to the dismissal of the dependency petition if:

• the child is suicidal;

• the child has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness, is prescribed medication for the mental illness, and may pose a danger to self and/or others if not receiving treatment and medication as prescribed;

• the child suffers from a serious physical illness and is prescribed medication, which if not available or administered properly, could place the child at risk of serious physical harm;

• the child is pregnant;

• the child is known to be, or is at risk of becoming, a victim of sex trafficking; or

• other specific child safety concerns exist (e.g. child of a young age, child is with a known perpetrator of abuse or neglect, child is significantly developmentally delayed, etc.).

Runaway Child is Located and Returns to Out-of-Home Care

The DCS Specialist will coordinate with the local law enforcement agency to retrieve the child.

When a runaway child has been located and is returning to out-of-home care during business hours, the DCS Specialist shall complete the following within 24 hours:

• Make a face-to-face contact with the child and determine the need for additional services.

• Obtain a medical exam for the child.

• Determine the need for additional behavioral health services and supports.

• Notify the appropriate local law enforcement agency and the MARC Unit that the child has returned.

• Assess contributing factors to running away and respond to those factors in current and future case decision, as appropriate.

• Assess the child’s experiences while absent from care, including screening to determine if the child is a sex trafficking victim. Report to the appropriate law enforcement agency if it is determined the child was a sex trafficking victim within 24 hours.

• Assess the appropriateness of the child returning to the same out-of-home placement and terminate the placement service authorization if a decision is made that the child will not return to the same out-of-home care provider.

• Contact the duty Assistant Attorney General and initiate a motion to vacate the pick-up order once the child has returned to out-of-home care.

• Notify NCMEC’s assigned Case Manager. If the assigned Case Manager is unknown, call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST to obtain name and contact information for the assigned case manager.

• Notify any individuals who received notice of the child's disappearance that the child has been located.

When a runaway child has been located and is returning to out-of-home care after hours or during weekends or holidays, the On-Call or After-Hours Team shall:

• Make a face-to-face contact with the child and determine the need for additional services.

• Obtain a medical exam for the child.

• Determine the need for additional behavioral health services and supports.

• Notify the appropriate law enforcement agency and OCWI that the child has returned.

• Assess contributing factors to running away and respond to those factors in current case decisions, as appropriate.

• Assess the child’s experiences while absent from care, including screening to determine if the child is a sex trafficking victim. Report to the appropriate law enforcement agency if it is determined the child was a sex trafficking victim within 24 hours.

• Assess the appropriateness of the child returning to the same out-of-home placement and terminate the placement service authorization if a decision is made that the child will not return to the same out-of-home care provider.

The MARC Specialist shall notify all parties that the child has been located.

The DCS Specialist shall:

• Contact the duty Assistant Attorney General and initiate a motion to vacate the pick-up order once the child has returned to out-of-home care.

• Notify NCMEC’s assigned Case Manager. If the assigned Case Manager is unknown, call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST to obtain name and contact information for the assigned case manager.

• Consider the contributing factors to the child running away in current and future case decisions, as appropriate.

Documentation

Document in the Missing Person Details tab information regarding the report to law enforcement including the date the youth went missing, the name of the law enforcement agency, the date of the report, the report number, and the name and phone number of the law enforcement point of contact.

Document ongoing communication with law enforcement, including information provided and received.

Document in Notes notification of all parties, specific attempts to locate the child and information obtained from each party that was contacted within ten (10) days.

End service authorizations by updating the Service Requests tab with End Date and termination reason after seven days for a child on runaway status, unless an earlier decision was made that the child will not return to the same provider. If this decision was made, terminate the service request as of the date of the decision.

Submit a new service request to document the status of the child as Runaway. End date the service request when the child is found.

Update the Services/Placement tab with the child's current (runaway) status and end date this status when the child returns.

Upload the OCWI Analyst Unit Research Referral for a Missing, Abducted, or Runaway Child, DCS-2454 form as an Artifact in Guardian.

After the child returns to out-of-home care, document in Notes the factors that contributed to the child running away and the experiences of the child during the runaway episode. Document that a screening was completed to determine if the child is a possible sex trafficking victim.

Effective Date: November 13, 2024

Revision History: November 30, 2012, September 13, 2013, February 4, 2015, July 7, 2018, August 6, 2016, June 24, 2019, February 1, 2021, January 11, 2022, May 9, 2023, October 30, 2023, September 14, 2024