This fall, many state Clearinghouses and AMECO member organizations will be launching their state missing children’s day poster contests. The annual contest creates an opportunity for schools, law enforcement, and other child advocates to discuss the issue of missing and/or exploited children with children, parents, and guardians and to promote child safety.

This year, there is a concerted effort to involve all states and territories in the competition. The process is simple. Each state/territory holds its own poster competition, and the single state winning poster is submitted to OJJDP for selection of the national winner. The winning child, his/her teacher, and parents are flown to Washington, DC to participate in the National Missing Children’s Day ceremony. The competition is open to students in 5^th grade only.

Visit the poster contest resource page for additional information, including contest rules and submission deadlines. Contact  India Hall at 1-888-347-5610, or 202-347-5610, or via email at [email protected] or visit the  state manager page for more information on how to contact your state manager.

This year, 37 states and the District of Columbia submitted their winning entries from among the thousands entered by fifth graders across the country.  The gallery below includes entries that were submitted to the national level contest. Thank you for your participation and  terrific artwork. Congratulations to everyone!

We are pleased to announce that this year’s national winner  is Esther J. from Chino, California.  The second place winner is Nacis L. from Orlando, Florida; and the third place winner is Craig H.  from Henderson, Nevada.

The theme of the contest was “Bring our Missing Children Home.”

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Every year the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) conducts a national poster contest for fifth graders to bring greater awareness to the issue of missingchildren. The poster contest is designed to increase awareness about the danger of abduction among children while providing an opportunity for organizations to engage  children and their parents in informative discussions on safety and prevention.

The theme for the poster contest is “Bring Our Missing Children Home.” Students are asked to design and draw a poster that reflects the theme and complete an application describing the importance of the theme. Each state holds its own poster competition, and the winning poster from each state is submitted by the state poster contest manager to OJJDP for selection of the national winner. For more information about your state’s contest, please contact your state contest manager.

For their efforts to bring greater awareness to their peers, the winner and his/her teacher and parents will travel to Washington, D.C., to receive an award and participate in the Missing Children’s Day ceremony.

Complete rules, information, and other poster contest resources can be found on the poster contest resource page.

For more information about National Missing Children’s Day and associated programs, please visit http://www.ojjdp.gov/programs/postercontest/index.html

On May 23, 2012, the Department of Justice commemorated National Missing Children’s Day with a ceremony honoring missing children, their families, child advocates, and those dedicated to the well-being and safety of children.  Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole recognized five individuals and presented them with awards for their contributions in preventing and responding to missing children and child sexual exploitation.  The National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest award was among those presented.  Elisa M., of Las Vegas, Nevada, was presented a savings bond and plaque for her national winning poster entry. Elisa was joined by her teacher, Ms. Danielle Rayos, and Julianna H., the 2011 national poster contest winner from Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Elisa’s poster description reads:

“The reason why I created my poster is because, I want missing children to know that someone would put effort and time to send a message for them, and for the missing children to know, that someone out there really cares that they’re missing!  My poster, as you can see, has the Statue of Liberty on it with a child in her arms because the Statue of Liberty stands strong for the law which protects the children of America.  Also on my poster there is the United States with the flag on it and in the flag where the starts are supposed to be, there are stick figures of the abducted children of the U.S.  Plus the buildings are very bright because the children bring light to the States of America.”

We congratulate and thank all the 2012 award winners and organizations who contribute to the recovery of missing, abused and neglected children.

This year, 41 states and the District of Columbia submitted their winning entries from among the thousands entered by fifth graders across the country.  The gallery below includes entries that were submitted to the national level contest. Thank you for your participation and  terrific artwork. Congratulations to everyone!

The theme of the contest was “Bring our Missing Children Home.”

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Every year the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) conducts a national poster contest for fifth graders to bring greater awareness to the issue of missing children. The poster contest is designed to increase awareness about the danger of abduction among children while providing an opportunity for organizations to engage children and their parents in informative discussions on safety and prevention.

The theme for the poster contest is “Bring Our Missing Children Home.” Students are asked to design and draw a poster that reflects the theme and complete an application describing the importance of the theme. Each state holds its own poster competition, and the winning poster from each state is submitted by the state poster contest manager to OJJDP for selection of the national winner. For more information about your state’s contest, please contact your state contest manager.

For their efforts to bring greater awareness to their peers, the winner and his/her teacher and parents will travel to Washington, D.C., to receive an award and participate in the Missing Children’s Day ceremony.

Complete rules, information, and other poster contest resources can be found on the poster contest resource page.

For more information about National Missing Children’s Day and associated programs, please visit http://www.ojjdp.gov/programs/postercontest/index.html.

2011	2010	2009
“I wanted to use the bald eagle as the center piece of my poster because it’s our nation’s symbol of strength, courage, and freedom. It’s watching over our missing children, its wings are outstretched to protect them, and it’s clutching a banner that is serving as an “Amber Alert.” The children holding hands have been found and are making their way back home. I was inspired to create this poster by my mother, who has been a crime victim. Since I was very young, she has taught me, my family, and other little children ways to stay safe.” - Julianna Hinton	“In my drawing it is representing the children that do not have a home. The children that have been kidnapped by bad people, taking them far away from their families. My wish is that they could be return to their homes. That is why I draw the hands; they are a symbol of a special person that guides them back home. The planet is a heart. It means that all kids needs so much love. The clouds are white meaning the children soul, which is very soft and pure. The hands can be Bod who has the power to protect and returned these children where they belong…Home. If we trust Him, the children will be back in their homes.” - Billy Joe Reyes Collado	“Just as cancer, the military, AIDS, and others have awareness ribbons, so does missing children. I chose to make my ribbon though, all the colors of the rainbow as kidnapping is not reserved for one kind of child, but all. My ribbon is made up of names of missing children. The heart in the center is the heart of parents and loved ones waiting for their children to come home, as home is where the heart is.” - Dakhota-Rae Brown