As the nation's resource center for child protection, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) spearheads national efforts to locate and recover missing children and raises public awareness about ways to prevent child abduction, molestation, and sexual exploitation. A private, nonprofit organization established in 1984, NCMEC operates under a Congressional mandate and works in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Since 1984 NCMEC has handled more than 1.3 million calls through its national Hotline 800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678); trained more than 151,755 police and other professionals; and published more than 17 million publications that are distributed free of charge in single copies. NCMEC has worked with law enforcement on more than 65,173 missing child cases, resulting in the recovery of  46,031 children.

As screenwriters, this is one small way we can help give something back to those families who desperately need our help. Take one minute out of each week to review the missing children's faces. maybe you've seen them recently and can assist in adding to the 46,031 children already recovered.