Photo Courtesy of CPD

Nearly 500,000 children are reported missing each year in the U.S. and Canada, and Kansas currently has 122 active cases, according to the KBI.

In a commitment to enhancing child safety and to support rapid identification in such emergencies, the Concordia Police Department is providing Child Safety ID Kits to all Concordia Elementary School students to take home.

The kits, kept by parents or guardians, would be given to law enforcement only if a child goes missing. Each kit includes a recent photo, physical characteristics, fingerprints, a DNA sample, dental information, and space for a Social Security number. It also offers safety tips for families and guidance on what details police need immediately during a missing-child report.

CPD Chief Brent Gering said the kits can save crucial time when parents are distraught.