Blog
What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Child Goes Missing
Key Takeaways Call 911 immediately. There is no waiting period to report a missing child, and the first 24 hours are crucial. Get help fast. Contact law enforcement right away, then reach out to trusted resources like the Polly Klaas Foundation and NCMEC. Stay…
Volunteering for Child Safety: Ways to Support Families in Crisis
Most of us want to do more for our communities. We just don’t always know where to start, or we tell ourselves we don’t have enough time, enough expertise, or enough to offer. If that sounds familiar, child safety volunteering might be exactly what…
Child Safety During Travel: Airports, Hotels, and Public Transit
Travel opens up a world of adventure for families, but it also presents unique safety challenges that require careful planning and awareness. Whether you’re navigating a crowded airport terminal, checking into an unfamiliar hotel, or riding public transportation…
Runaway Prevention: Understanding Why Kids Leave Home
Every year, hundreds of thousands of children and teens are reported missing in the United States, and many of those cases involve youth who run away or are pushed out of their homes. Understanding why kids run away is one of the most important steps families and…
How to Teach Kids About Stranger Danger Without Causing Fear
Safety awareness is crucial to instill in your children, but teaching kids about safety can be a fine line to walk. You want your child to understand the risks without making them fearful of the world around them. How do you strike that balance? In this article, we’ll…
How to Recognize Signs of Grooming by Predators
Spotting grooming early can stop abuse before it starts. Predators often use calculated steps — online and offline — to break down boundaries, isolate children, and normalize secrecy. This guide explains common signs of grooming and what parents and caregivers can do…
Understanding the AMBER Alert System: How It Works and What to Do
The buzz of a late-night notification, the sudden flash of text across a highway sign — an AMBER Alert cuts through daily routines with one purpose: enlist the public in finding an abducted child. In this article, we’ll unpack the process from police report to public…
Tips for Keeping Your Children Safe in Public
Parents and caregivers know that it’s always important to be careful and stay on your guard. The following strategies — informed by the Polly Klaas Foundation’s three decades of child safety work — will help you balance kids’ independence with smart safeguards….
How to Support Families with Missing and Runaway Children
Every year in the United States, thousands of children vanish, leaving families suspended between fear and hope. Families in crisis need more than thoughts and prayers; they need a community that understands how to help without adding to their burden. Here are…
How to Keep Children Safe Online: Essential Tips for Parents
Children spend hours on the Internet, connecting with friends, playing games, and accessing learning tools. While these activities can promote growth, cyberspace also carries many risks that might not be immediately obvious to children. Understanding ways to guard…
Child Trafficking: Prevalence and Prevention
Child trafficking threatens communities across the United States, yet many remain unaware of its true scope. Understanding how it occurs, recognizing its prevalence, and taking concrete steps to prevent it can protect vulnerable children. Below, we examine the current…
Why Donate Your Vehicle to the Polly Klaas Foundation?
There are several good reasons, but the one we think is most important is when you donate to the Polly Klaas Foundation, you know exactly how the funds from your donated vehicle will be used. For example, your donated vehicle will help to find missing children. Over…
A Guide to Donating Your Car to Charity
Donating a car to charity can transform an unused vehicle into a source of hope and support for nonprofit organizations. Whether your car is gathering dust in the driveway or you simply want to give back in a meaningful way, contributing a vehicle can lead to…












