‘Child Find’ helps keep tabs on kids

Locating a lost child can be a difficult and very stressful task–when every second seems like an eternity.
But it doesn’t have to be.
The Child Find-Fort Frances committee has been working hard since late last year to raise awareness of its program, which is aimed at helping police should a child go missing.
The “Kid Check” program was Child Find’s latest push during Railroad Daze in Rainy River last Saturday, which chairman Randy Ricci said was “excellent.”
“We had a great turnout, and a lot of kids came up to us wanting information,” he noted.
The registration process is simple. During any “Kid Check” blitz, parents can get their child fingerprinted and fill out a form containing crucial information.
The parent then keeps these in case their child does go missing, making it easier for police and other emergency services to track that child down.
Ricci stressed no one other than the parent is privy to this information–not even the OPP. “There’s this misconception that the police has files on everyone but it’s not true,” he said.
Saturday’s blitz went so well that the group plans to have “Kid Check” booths at the upcoming Emo fall fair and the Chamber of Commerce trade show here.
The local Child Find group got its start “around the time Jacob Miller ran away last year,” noted Ricci, citing the Fort Frances teen who later turned up in New York in November.
“It made me think, ‘Anyone can go missing,’” he remarked. “It can happen in a small town–especially a border town.”
Since then, the group has expanded to 15 members from Atikokan to Rainy River.
But Child Find is always on the lookout for volunteers. Those wanting get involved can do everything from sitting on the committee to helping out with “Kid Checks,” hanging posters, or talking at schools.
“Anyone who likes children, or cares about them, should get involved–it’s a way to give back to the community,” suggested Ricci.
Those interested can contact him at 274-3483. A police background check is the only condition to join.
Child Find Canada has groups in every province, and each province is split into various chapters. The district group here operates under the Kenora chapter.
In related news, the district group will have a new chairperson come September when Ricci moves to Thunder Bay.
“But I’ll be checking in on Fort Frances every once in a while. I’d like to see how it’s doing, and I’d like to see it succeed,” he remarked.
Ricci will carry on with Child Find’s Thunder Bay chapter.
A new chairperson will be chosen at the group’s monthly meeting next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Emo OPP station.