Just one person can help find a missing child

Could it be you?

A missing child is every parent’s worst nightmare. In 1981, that nightmare became a reality for John and Reve Walsh when their 6-year-old son, Adam Walsh, went missing in Florida.

At the time of Adam’s disappearance, a system for finding missing children didn’t exist in the US. Authorities were slow to respond and without a process to gather tips or information from someone who might have unknowingly witnessed Adam’s abduction. It was as if Adam had vanished without a trace. Sadly, Adam’s body was recovered two weeks after his disappearance.

6-year old Adam Walsh, who was abducted and murdered in 1981.

6-year old Adam Walsh, who was abducted and murdered in 1981.

Nearly 20 years later, Alicia Kozak was kidnapped at age 13. Her abductor took her several states away from her home and held her in a basement dungeon he had built in his home. He then livestreamed her being abused.

The outcome was different this time.

In the aftermath of the Adam Walsh tragedy, his parents created the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC). In 2021, the NCMEC CyberTipline received more than 29.3 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation, an increase of 35% from 2020.

LexisNexis Risk Solutions has partnered with NCMEC for the past 20 years in many ways, including the creation and donation of the technology behind the Automated Delivery of Alerts on Missing Children, known as The ADAM Program^TM.

The ADAM Program technology leverages the potency of photos ⸺ still the single most powerful tool in finding missing children ⸺ by harnessing the eyes of the public.

It quickly distributes posters containing a photo and other critical information of a missing child to police, news media, schools, businesses, medical centers, public digital display screens and individuals within a specific, targeted geographic area. Built in 2000, The ADAM Program continues to be maintained and upgraded by a team of volunteers at LexisNexis Risk Solutions to this day.

“Had my poster not been shared nationally, I would not be here today,” says Kozak, now an advocate for internet safety and missing persons. She was recovered four days after her abduction because someone recognized her from a missing child poster and alerted the FBI.

Alicia Kozak, former child abduction victim, now an advocate for internet safety and missing persons.

Alicia Kozak, former child abduction victim, now an advocate for internet safety and missing persons.

"Sadly, many of the critically missing and endangered children the U.S. Marshals seek to locate and recover are at-risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking, exploitation and abuse. Finding these vulnerable youth is part of our primary mission to protect communities,” says Donald Washington, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “We are proud to work with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and our partners at federal, state, tribal and local agencies to locate, recover and protect endangered missing children."

Deeply affected by his brother’s disappearance and murder and the thousands of other cases he has witnessed since then, Cal Walsh is today a child advocate and spokesperson for NCMEC. Together with his dad, Cal also co-hosts 'In Pursuit with John Walsh' a television show on the Investigation Discovery Channel which profiles unsolved and ongoing high-profile crime stories. Cal says that by leveraging its core business solutions and expertise, LexisNexis Risk Solutions is able to quickly “identify the technologies that allow us to get those images out there faster, to even more people, and geo-targeted.”

Cal Walsh, child advocate and spokesperson for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and co-host of 'In Hot Pursuit with John Walsh' on the Investigation Discovery Channel.

The LexisNexis Risk Solutions ADAM Program technology team, which volunteers their time and expertise to manage and upgrade the program.

“The technology allows us to use the power of the public, boots on the ground; it gives people the opportunity to do the right thing,” notes Walsh. “At the end of the day, it’s the public that is helping people reunite children with their loved ones.”

The technology for the program was created by employees of LexisNexis Risk Solutions, all of whom volunteer a significant amount of their personal time and expertise to make the program a success. A team of LexisNexis Risk Solutions volunteers continues to manage and enhance the program today.

"I have had the privilege of being part of the creation and development of this program since the beginning," said Trish McCall, senior director, Program Management at LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Co-Founder of the ADAM Program. "Through the years, together with my counterparts at NCMEC, I have also shared in the joy each and every time this program has helped recover a missing child. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make this program a success and are always looking for ways to increase awareness and extend the reach of the ADAM Program."

Meet some of the amazing LexisNexis Risk Solutions volunteers behind the ADAM Program technology.

Partnerships with select businesses and organizations have also assisted in increasing the reach of the program, ultimately on a global level, further helping to achieve the goal of reuniting missing children with their loved ones.

"As a company, we really strive to help NCMEC in its mission to help bring missing children home," says Haywood Talcove, CEO, Chief Executive Officer, LexisNexis Special Services and LexisNexis Risk Solutions. “The ADAM Program’s reach is further amplified when we partner with law enforcement, the public and private stakeholders who share our dedication to helping NCMEC locate children and help create public awareness to find and reunite missing children with their families."

So how can you help? Signing up for ADAM alerts in your area is easy and it only takes one person to help recover a missing child.

Sign up now at ADAMprogram.com