SEARCH PARTNERS
There will be other parties involved in the search for a missing child that can assist in the Community Response Plan. These parties may include:
Law Enforcement Agencies
Missing Children Services Organizations
Accredited Search and Rescue Organizations
Law Enforcement Agencies
The police will be the most significant Community Response Plan partner in the search for a missing child. The Search Operations Coordinator should communicate all search efforts made by the Community Response Plan Team to the police. In most circumstances, direction will be provided by the police.
Police involvement can be municipal or provincial depending on your location. Community involvement in search operations will depend on the level of police involvement. Police engagement will depend on the situation and the investigation timeline. The need for the Community Response Plan Team in search efforts will fluctuate over the course of an investigation. The Search Operations Coordinator needs to be in regular contact with police and be mindful of when it is appropriate for community involvement in search operations.
Missing Children Services Organizations
There are a number of different missing children services organizations nationally, provincially and locally to assist the Community Response Plan Team in the event of a missing child. It is important to determine if these resources are available to you and if so, to include them in your efforts. These organizations may have access to resources that can assist the Community Response Plan Team. They may also have good relationships with and connections to the police, media, government and the larger community and can help draw attention to the event of a missing child.
Search and Rescue Organizations
There may be accredited search and rescue organizations in your region that are available to help with your search efforts. Be cautious of search and rescue organizations that charge a fee or make guarantees. There is a listing of volunteer search organizations in Canada posted at http://sarvac.ca/.
Note: The link to the foregoing website is provided for information only. It is not intended and should not be interpreted as an endorsement or recommendation of the volunteer search organizations listed thereon. In all cases, you must assess the organization and make a decision of whether or not to engage their services based on your own inquiries and due diligence.