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Child Find of America is a is a 501(c)(3) national public charity organization devoted to the location, protection and enrichment of children. Child Find was founded in 1980 by searching mother Gloria Yerkovich whose daughter was abducted by her biological father. Child Find played a role as a prototype for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Its founding members testified before the United States Senate Investigations Sub-committee in favor of a national clearing house for missing children in 1982, helped enact the Missing Children’s act, and was instrumental in designating May 25th as National Missing Children’s Day. In 2006, with initial funding provided by the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Child Find expanded its original location and prevention services to include the Parent Help program. The current Executive Director is Donna Linder.

History
Founding and Early Years:

Gloria Yerkovich was living in New Paltz, New York, when her 5-year-old daughter was abducted by the girl's biological father in 1975. At this time there existed no laws that identified parental abduction by the non-custodial parent as a federal crime, nor a national clearinghouse for missing children. After several years of unsuccessful searching, Yerkovich created Child Find of America and incorporated it in August 1980. Child Find is the oldest missing children's organization in the United States.

In the early 1980’s Child Find began appearing in several well known magazines such as Ladies Home Journal, and the New York News Sunday Magazine. At this time the Child Find Newsletter was established as a way to distribute information on missing children and educate readers about abduction. Its earliest location services were offered through volunteers in several regional call centers across the country. After the establishment of the National Center, Child Find consolidated resources and, with the advent of internet technology has since maintained one call center at its headquarters in New Paltz providing services to families in all 50 U.S states.

Parent Help
The Parent Help program provides free, confidential, telephone-based services for parents living apart and having problems sharing their children - including those dealing with custodial and visitation situations, and those who may be considering abducting their own children, or concerned that the other parent may abduct.

Location
Child Find investigates cases of missing children using computer technology, the Internet and a national network of partners, including local law enforcement agencies, the FBI, state missing children clearinghouses, schools and other non-profit organizations.

Public Education and Training For Professionals
Safety tips, conferences, press releases, and public services announcements are distributed by Child Find to promote child advocacy, safety and the prevention of abduction. Educational programs provide information to young people on different topics surrounding abduction, such as the Run Away No-Way Campaign, as well as safety worksheets available on the internet. Workshops are available to public and private agencies to strengthen their delivery of services to families on topics such as addressing and managing conflict, child safety, and abduction prevention.