| Everyday children vanish from
their homes under painful circumstances. Whether abduction by a stranger, a parent, or
runaway, we all agree that missing children deserve every chance to be found. These
children who are often victims of abuse, deceived, lured, exploited, undernourished, under
educated and forced to live like fugitives needing to be rescued. In 1984, Michael and Melody Gibson, residents of Washington State, along with the help of hundreds of concerned citizens who volunteered, founded a grassroots effort to assist families with missing children. Many years later, the Gibson's remain active as the indomitable spirit behind OPERATION LOOKOUT® Nation Center For Missing Youth (a.k.a. "OL") which goes through financial peaks and valleys each year. It is their goal and objective to stabilize the center to assure families that missing children's services will be available without charge long into the 21st century. OPERATION LOOKOUT® National Center for Missing Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit family service agency. All domestic and foreign investigative casework is provided cost effectively from the fully equipped and computerized offices based in America. Federal Exemption #:91-1298249. There is never a fee for services regardless of the expense or duration of the case. OPERATION LOOKOUT® receives no Federal funds and relies on the generosity of concerned citizens for support. Our Annual Budget is $1,650,000.00. For a copy of the Annual Report, please contact us in writing. OL® is dedicated to locating and recovering children of Family and Non-family abductions, Runaway and Unexplained Disappearance who disappear prior to age 18. Services are always free of charge and include a 24 hour missing children toll free HELP LINE, search assistance, reunification planning, victim support, coordination with law enforcement, investigative casework, legal and social services referral, poster design, and photo and poster distribution. With the involvement of law enforcement, volunteers, staff and contributors, the center has an overall case-resolve rate of 82%. The 24 hour HELP LINE (1-800-782-SEEK USA or 1-800-LOOKOUT ext. 1234 Worldwide) can be called to report a missing child, a sighting, for advice, search assistance and information. OL® was appointed a Model Site for the Reunification of Missing Children Project, designed with the Child Find Unit of the King County Police Department and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to establish essential data about trauma, travel and relationships a child endures during their abduction. Through this effort, mental health professionals and law enforcement are coordinated by OPERATION LOOKOUT® to ensure the child's well being and a safe recovery. Not all cases will involve the FBI, but all cases will have a police report and a NIC number in America or the equivalent in another country. All legal avenues must be taken with attorneys, law enforcement, FBI, etc. before a child can be recovered. Periodically OL® hosts networking luncheons for authorities and professionals; each April OL coordinates and host training sessions on international child abductions via the annual Northwest Coalition of Missing Children Investigators and Professionals Symposium, attended by professionals and authorities from America and other Countries. In addition, OPERATION LOOKOUT® was on the steering committee for the Justice Department to establish a national conference on missing children. OL® is a founding and Charter Members of the Association for Missing & Exploited Children's Organizations, a cooperative national and international association developed to enhance credibility and quality assurance for its member organizations. OL® was awarded the OJJDP (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention) and INPOM (Institute for Nonprofit Organization Management) Award or Expertise in the Field of Governance and it receives a Proclamation each year from the Governor of Washington State for exemplary victim services. OL® also publishes The Lookout®, a magazine designed as an informational tool, including the faces of missing children, case histories, international issues, prevention and safety tips. The Images of the Heart® poster and photo program distributes to citizens, publications, law enforcement, customs border patrol, media, transportation stations, day care centers, and grocery stores. The center is a Charter Member of the
Association for Missing & Exploited Children Organizations. There is no legal
affiliation with other missing children's centers; however, there is an ongoing and
collaborative relationship with all other competent nonprofit missing children's service
centers. |