With child abductions and missing juveniles on the rise over the past few years, it�s reassuring to know that the worlds most comprehensive Child Identification Program (CHIP) is now coupled with President Bush�s �Amber Alert System�, greatly increasing successful recovery of lost or missing children. A child is reported missing every 41seconds according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. CHIP is sponsored by the Masons while working in conjunction with law enforcement agencies and more recently the American Dental Association.

In 2001, the F.B.I. National Crime Information Center reported 700,000-750,000 missing juveniles in the U.S. that translated to some 2000 per day. Today this number is approaching one million. Profiles for abductions in America are females wearing headsets, i.e. Chondra Levy and children to and from school, mostly from. When CHIP was initiated it consisted of fingerprinting and videotaping children, capturing appearance, speech, mannerisms and other characteristics. If a picture is worth a thousand words then a video is worth a million.

About five years ago a third important tool was added, that of the �Toothprints�. This consists of a simple thermoplastic wafer that captures three-dimensional aspects of a child�s teeth, fillings, sealants, and SALIVA. This saliva retention, good for two to three years, provides a DNA sample while more significant gives a strong �scent trail� for search and rescue canine teams. Elizabeth Smart was found due to a videotape of her but would have been recovered 9 months earlier if she had a �Toothprints�. Her saliva scent from mere breathing, would have been picked up by the canine rescue dogs that were within hearing distance! Fingerprints, videotapes and �Toothprints� become the sole property of parent or guardian for safekeeping in the hope they would never be needed. This program is absolutely free to any participant.

CHIP has been inaugurated here in NY just this year. As part of our commitment to our patients and community we will offer complimentary �Toothprints� to anyone seeking additional security for their families. I will further direct you for the balance of CHIP, that of fingerprints and videotaping. Individuals from birth to college age may participate. There will also be monthly sites and dates throughout the state where CHIP can be implemented at one time. This program has been successfully implemented in Massachusetts for the past five years where several children have been joyfully recovered! A web site is planned for early November, which will give more details of dates and places.

Click here for further information or visit http://www.childidprogram.com/

I feel very strongly about the safety of our children, as I�m sure we all do and therefore encourage everyone to take advantage of this program. Furthermore, please take a moment to forward this to anyone you think would benefit from CHIP.

As always,