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Exemplary Project
Find-A-Kid Campaign Virginia Beach (VA) Police Department During the summer, the Virginia Beach (VA) Police Department investigates, searches for, and locates hundreds of lost children who are separated from their parents at the oceanfront. Besides being costly to the police department, parents and children experience a high level of anxiety and stress. In 2000, the Virginia Beach Police Department along with assistance from the Virginia Beach Hotel/Motel Association developed the voluntary “Find-A-Kid” Program. When families with children under 11 years old visit, (both those who come for an extended stay at the city’s hotels, or day only visitors), parents are encouraged, though personal contact, signs, and brochures, to place an identification band on their children’s wrists. These waterproof wrist bands are of different colors with specific hotel or location designators on them. If a child is lost, any person can direct the child to the proper location. Once parents report a missing child they are instructed by authorities to go to the designated location, where the child will be returned. This often results in a quick reunion, and reduces the problem of having parents going off to locate a child that may have already been found, with the police then trying to find the missing parents. The program started with 26 hotels in May of 2000, with 56 in the program by the end of that summer season. All of the 86 hotels in Virginia Beach have committed to the program for 2001. The Virginia Beach Police Department reunited over 200 children with their parents in 2000 and many others were returned without police intervention. The police department estimates they saved 3400 person-hours last year. Much of the success of the program comes from the general knowledge and support of employees associated with the local tourist industry. All city workers at the beach, lifeguards, most venders, and hotel staffs are very knowledge about the program and provide assistance as situations occur. Besides the success in finding children, the program lowers parental anxiety, assists children in obtaining assistance without police intervention, and makes the hotels and beaches a safer place. The hotels and businesses pay for the bracelets and literature. For more information, contact Sgt. Steve Kurrle at (757) 427-8957.
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