Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced Wednesday his Office of Trafficking and Abuse Prevention and Prosecution launched a statewide missing child awareness campaign titled “It Saves to Know.”
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, one in six missing children is approached by a human trafficker in the first 48 hours.
“The ‘It Saves to Know’ campaign combats human trafficking by mobilizing Kentuckians to recognize the signs that a child may be considering running away, and empowers citizens and caregivers with steps to help prevent a child from going missing,” the attorney general’s office said.
“Last year, over 3,700 Kentucky children were reported missing, making them vulnerable to predatory adults, drugs, and violent crimes,” Cameron said. “Every Kentuckian has a role to play in protecting our most vulnerable, and we hope that this campaign will stop human trafficking before it starts. I am grateful to our Office of Trafficking and Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Executive Director Heather Wagers for ensuring this campaign protects our most vulnerable from danger.”
To raise awareness about the dangers faced by missing children, Cameron also issued a proclamation today declaring the month of May as Missing Child Awareness Month in the Commonwealth.
The statewide media campaign, launched ahead of National Missing Children’s Day and during Missing Child Awareness Month, utilizes digital communication platforms like social media, audio streaming, digital display, and streaming on top networks and popular streaming devices to reach Kentuckians throughout the commonwealth while targeting regions with high rates of missing children.
The campaign will also include resources to assist social workers, law enforcement, parents, and caregivers in recognizing the signs that a child may run away and provide tools to aid them in locating children who have been reported missing.
The campaign is funded by a grant from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
