24-Hour Missing Child Hotline and Case Management
Offered by National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
Families can call NCMEC after reporting a missing child to law enforcement, and NCMEC can open a case, coordinate with investigators, create posters, review leads, and connect families to support.
Plain-language summary, written with AI
Cost & format
free · By phone
Schedule
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Who this is for
Families or caregivers of a missing child; call local law enforcement first in an emergency or active missing child case.
How to apply
Call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) after contacting local law enforcement.
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