Lily Yates

English 1213

Professor Hammett

Essay 1 Argument Proposal

March 11, 2023

Word Count: 1,148

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            What if there was a reasonable and beneficial solution to the missing children epidemic? While completely getting rid of the risk factors associated with missing children is nearly impossible, there are a few solutions that, if implemented correctly, could greatly decrease the number of children that go missing. Two of these solutions would be to implement greater education for all children and develop a way for children to contact authorities and have a support system in dangerous situations. While this would undoubtedly cost the nation considerable amounts of money and resources, many would agree that the safety of children significantly outweighs the negative factors. However, many more factors need recognition, such as the fact that some missing children go missing due to a mental disorder in which they wander off alone without realizing it. Despite this, there are also solutions to promote safety for those with mental disorders. While the missing children epidemic has caused fear in many parents and minors alike, establishing greater child education and support will greatly decrease the risk of a child going missing and less fear for children and parents alike.

        First, it is important to educate children on how to react in potentially dangerous situations. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the National Autism Association (NAA) recommend all parents of autistic children provide swim lessons for said child, which should decrease the likelihood of the child drowning after wandering off:

According to research, nearly half of children with autism are at risk for wandering away from a safe setting. Because people with autism are vulnerable to dangerous situations including drowning, traffic incidents, becoming trapped in hot cars, etc., it’s important to take critical precautions and be aware that drowning fatalities remain a leading cause of wandering-related death and traffic injury. (NAA)

Along with this information, NCMEC states that out of children with autism, 84% of accidental deaths were drownings. Therefore, a solution to decrease the amount of missing autistic children is to provide swimming lessons for those children. The CDC and NAA also recommend that parents know their child’s location at all times, along with keeping the child away from possible overstimulating situations in which a child would want to run off. It is also vital to point out that many autistic children are unable to communicate a means of identification, so having an ID on their person can also assist in bringing said child back to safety (NAA). Along with this, it is recommended that the child wears a tracking device (NAA), the parents understand a child’s triggers, and provide the child with safety training (crossing the street, swimming lessons, etc.) These are all solutions to help prevent mentally disabled children from wandering off and possibly endangering themselves.

        Secondly, providing a stable support system for children is important in preventing mental issues in which a child could wish to run away. Parents, teachers, and other influences in a child’s life should remain educated and aware of any factors in which a child could wish to run away, such as bullying, abuse, struggling mental health, etc. (NCMEC). Out of all missing children’s cases in 2020 that NCMEC received, 91% were runaways, and 87% had at least one major risk factor, with 67% having two or more risk factors (NCMEC). These risk factors oftentimes lead to suicidal tendencies, which need to be addressed immediately (NCMEC). Identifying potential risk factors in a child’s environment and presenting solutions to these issues can decrease the child’s desire to run away (The University of Kansas: KU). One possible solution is for schools to offer free counseling for children struggling with suicidal tendencies, bullying, abuse, etc. Providing a safe place to talk with a good counselor gives the child the resources to understand their emotions and act in a safe way regarding those emotions (KU). Some could argue that this would be an economically unwise decision, however, the well-being and safety of children should be put first to prevent runaways.

            Thirdly, educating all children on the dangers of sextortion and abductions will decrease the number of children caught in these illegal activities. According to the US Department of State (USDS), it is recommended that everyone old enough to understand the concept of sex trafficking should be informed about preventative measures and the common signs of trafficking. By educating children and young adults on the dangers of sextortion and child sex trafficking, children will be more aware of the risk factors and how to avoid said risks (FBI, NCMEC, and USDS). According to Love146.org, approximately 3 million children are in sex and labor trafficking, 87% of whom are in child welfare, and 81% of whom are runaways. Love146.org also states that being aware of trafficking, having a strong support system, having a solid understanding of consent, and understanding safety skills are all suggested preventative measures that children should know. Using this information, it can be reasonably inferred that educating children about safety measures and providing a support system to children is a great preventative measure against child sex trafficking (FBI, NCMEC).

            While abductions and sex trafficking from strangers are threats to children, children are also not always safe from their family members. If a child is at threat of being abducted by a family member(s), the recommended route is to bring the suspected family member(s) to court to request preventative measures against said family member(s) (FBI, NCMEC). According to NCMEC, only 4.3% out of over 29,000 missing children’s cases in 2020 were family abductions, however, this is larger than the 1% of non-family abductions (NCMEC). Although a familial abduction may seem less important or risky, it is important to note that both familial and non-familial abductions are dangerous and should therefore be taken seriously. As stated by NCMEC: “Decades of research across multiple fields have illustrated the serious and harmful effects that family abductions can have on child victims and their families.”(NCMEC) In both cases, the most important aspect is protecting and educating the child about possible harm from strangers and any dangerous family members (NCMEC).

            No matter what the situation a child is in, the most important aspect of preventing a missing child case is to:

1. Educate mentally disadvantaged children on how to react in a possibly dangerous situation, along with keeping a careful eye on them.

2. Providing the child with a good support system and alerting a trusted support system if there is an issue.

3. Educate the child on the dangers of sex trafficking, sextortion, strangers, and certain family members (if applicable).

While the specifics of education in different situations can differ, providing the child with general education about the risks of going missing is the first and most important step. Nevertheless, providing the child with a strong support system and protecting the child from dangerous situations is also a very important factor in preventing a missing child case. Lastly, it is important to note that if a child does go missing, federal law prohibits a waiting period in reporting a missing child, so if there is a reason to suspect the child is missing, reach out to law enforcement immediately. Providing proper safety education and support to all children is how we will eradicate the missing children epidemic.