children.
A parent's worst nightmare is the disappearance of a child. To give families a measure of protection against this ever increasing problem, the Grand Lodge of Indiana and Indiana DeMolay are proud to introduce the Child Identification Program to the state of Indiana. Based on a very successful program started by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, the Indiana Freemasons Child Identification Program addresses the alarming fact that over 1,000,000 children are reported missing in the United States each year. Sadly, the abduction of children is both under-reported and rapidly increasing in our society. While most are found, many are not.
The Indiana Freemasons' Child ID program is the most comprehensive child identification program currently available to our communities. Our system helps concerned parents to promote the safety of their children by providing a fast, simple packet of information to help authorities identify and recover lost, missing or exploited kids.
The program consists of a brief interview with the child that is recorded on a video cassette to show his or her mannerisms and speech patterns. The child's fingerprints are taken, and a DNA sample is made by swabbing the inside of the child's mouth. All identifying materials are given to the parent or guardian once the child has been processed. No materials or private information is retained by the Freemasons or any law enforcement agency. The program is free and no appointment is necessary.
Organization and publicity are crucial to the success of a Child ID event, and Lodges are encouraged to develop partnerships with local civic and parents groups, not only to ease manpower burdens on the Lodge, but to give a stronger local sense of involvement for the whole community.
In order to be successful, the program must be made consistently available throughout the state of Indiana, and all Freemasons are encouraged to support their lodges and other community groups in this project. When you consider the frightening statistics that over one million children are reported missing in the United States each year, and there are over 100,000 attempted abductions by non-family members for the same period, the value of this program is enormous.
Child ID provides Freemasons with the opportunity to bring before our communities the principles of their Craft by example and deeds. By increasing awareness of what Freemasonry means and what Freemasons do, we promote the public image of our Fraternity. And we strengthen our ability to grow and provide even more good to our communities and to those whom we so dearly love, our families. Through our example it is our aim that others too will become stronger in their desire to make our communities better places in which to live. Please help make the Child ID program a success in Indiana.