agnes!
10-26-2006, 10:41 AM
Because of Katrina, the National Center for Missing Adults(NCMA)might have to close permanently.
I received this notice from them because I used NCMA after Katrina (when I volunteered & helped families find their missing loved ones). They are an invaluable national resource for people searching for missing adult family-members(and this is anytime - not just after Katrina, either).
Thought folks on this forum might be interested. NCMA might have to CLOSE because they did too much good, they have almost expended their last organizational breath.
I suppose they should have "just said NO" to the thousands of people frantically searching for their missing loved ones post-Katrina?
I am glad, though, that they cared enough to help all of us.
agnes!
*****
October 23, 2006
Federal budget cuts have severely depleted the resources to the
National Center for Missing Adults (NCMA) and this agency is being
forced to close the doors of their office in Phoenix, AZ and relocate
if this nationally-respected agency is to remain open. The agency is
pleading to Congressional Representatives, the public and the
national business community to help with contributions, moving
assistance, and new office space so NCMA can remain in operation!
When the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
called on the National Center for Missing Adults (NCMA), the first
clearinghouse for missing adults in the country, to provide case
management and support services to thousands of families of missing
adults left in Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath, no one expected
the future of the agency was at stake. While the National Center for
Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) filtered calls for those under
the age of 18 missing in the hurricane catastrophe, their own funding
does not allow for assistance to be provided to those over 18.
Established as a national clearinghouse for missing adults since 2002
and working in partnership with governmental agencies, the Phoenix
based missing person agency handled over 13,500 missing adult reports
closing 99.9% of the cases in the months following the hurricane. The
Hurricane Katrina efforts cost the agency over $200,000 of their own
funding, and with only $50,000 reimbursement from the federal
government, has depleted the agency's own reserve. With bills
stacking up, a 70% reduction in staff, and no money left to pay the
lease the agency must immediately vacate the nearly 8,000 square feet
of offices they have been renting since 1998.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) receives
over $35 million dollars per year to assist with missing children
cases. However, during the last fours years, NCMA's federal
income was cut to $148,000 for 2006 operating costs. With a reduction
in staff and now a move to a smaller facility, providing services to
thousands of families nationwide is threatened to being taken away.
Without NCMA in operation, this means that families of missing adults
and law enforcement agencies no longer have a helpful resource to rely
on for assistance.
During 2005, NCMA handled 23,421 missing person reports and provided
assistance to over 24,741 family members of missing persons.
Approximately 2,000 law enforcement agencies received assistance.
"Currently Kristen's Act Reauthorization of 2005, H.R.
2103, is pending in Congress and would appropriate up to $4 million
per year to the agency but with continued delays in Congress we are
just financially unable to continue operating out of our North
Phoenix offices," said Erin Bruno, Director of Case Management.
"Our founder of the agency has sold her own personal property
and declined pay since April 2006 to try to keep this agency running
so families throughout the country had a place to go for help."
The public may contact the agency by calling (602) 749-2000 or (800)
690-3463 or by visiting www.missingadults.org.
NMCO is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization working with local, state
and federal law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners. NCMA, a
division of NMCO, is the only national missing adult clearinghouse
funded by the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
to provide advocacy and support services to families of missing
adults and directly involved in the President's DNA Initiative, "Advancing Justice through DNA Technology."
I received this notice from them because I used NCMA after Katrina (when I volunteered & helped families find their missing loved ones). They are an invaluable national resource for people searching for missing adult family-members(and this is anytime - not just after Katrina, either).
Thought folks on this forum might be interested. NCMA might have to CLOSE because they did too much good, they have almost expended their last organizational breath.
I suppose they should have "just said NO" to the thousands of people frantically searching for their missing loved ones post-Katrina?
I am glad, though, that they cared enough to help all of us.
agnes!
*****
October 23, 2006
Federal budget cuts have severely depleted the resources to the
National Center for Missing Adults (NCMA) and this agency is being
forced to close the doors of their office in Phoenix, AZ and relocate
if this nationally-respected agency is to remain open. The agency is
pleading to Congressional Representatives, the public and the
national business community to help with contributions, moving
assistance, and new office space so NCMA can remain in operation!
When the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
called on the National Center for Missing Adults (NCMA), the first
clearinghouse for missing adults in the country, to provide case
management and support services to thousands of families of missing
adults left in Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath, no one expected
the future of the agency was at stake. While the National Center for
Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) filtered calls for those under
the age of 18 missing in the hurricane catastrophe, their own funding
does not allow for assistance to be provided to those over 18.
Established as a national clearinghouse for missing adults since 2002
and working in partnership with governmental agencies, the Phoenix
based missing person agency handled over 13,500 missing adult reports
closing 99.9% of the cases in the months following the hurricane. The
Hurricane Katrina efforts cost the agency over $200,000 of their own
funding, and with only $50,000 reimbursement from the federal
government, has depleted the agency's own reserve. With bills
stacking up, a 70% reduction in staff, and no money left to pay the
lease the agency must immediately vacate the nearly 8,000 square feet
of offices they have been renting since 1998.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) receives
over $35 million dollars per year to assist with missing children
cases. However, during the last fours years, NCMA's federal
income was cut to $148,000 for 2006 operating costs. With a reduction
in staff and now a move to a smaller facility, providing services to
thousands of families nationwide is threatened to being taken away.
Without NCMA in operation, this means that families of missing adults
and law enforcement agencies no longer have a helpful resource to rely
on for assistance.
During 2005, NCMA handled 23,421 missing person reports and provided
assistance to over 24,741 family members of missing persons.
Approximately 2,000 law enforcement agencies received assistance.
"Currently Kristen's Act Reauthorization of 2005, H.R.
2103, is pending in Congress and would appropriate up to $4 million
per year to the agency but with continued delays in Congress we are
just financially unable to continue operating out of our North
Phoenix offices," said Erin Bruno, Director of Case Management.
"Our founder of the agency has sold her own personal property
and declined pay since April 2006 to try to keep this agency running
so families throughout the country had a place to go for help."
The public may contact the agency by calling (602) 749-2000 or (800)
690-3463 or by visiting www.missingadults.org.
NMCO is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization working with local, state
and federal law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners. NCMA, a
division of NMCO, is the only national missing adult clearinghouse
funded by the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
to provide advocacy and support services to families of missing
adults and directly involved in the President's DNA Initiative, "Advancing Justice through DNA Technology."