KLICKITAT COUNTY—From the moment a missing child is reported to the resolution of the case, every action taken has the potential to make the difference between a successful recovery and a tragic outcome.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) developed the Missing Kids Readiness Program to promote best practices for responding to calls of missing, abducted, and sexually exploited children. 911 call centers and law enforcement agencies are recognized for meeting essential training and policy elements demonstrating preparedness for responding to a missing child incident.
To meet the requirements of the program, KCDEM-911 worked with NCMEC on their missing child policy to ensure it met the critical elements of NCMEC’s model policy for call center agencies. In addition, Chief of Operations Filiberto Ontiveros completed his required training as the center manager. Training Coordinator Hannah Walter ensured all Communications Officers and supervisors completed their required training, and her work has been invaluable in this achievement.
Armed with the information, knowledge, and operational resources gained through meeting the program criteria, our 911 Communications Officers are prepared to respond more quickly, comprehensively, and effectively when a child’s life may be at stake.
Our team is collaborating with our law enforcement partners to support them as they may navigate becoming members of the program.
The KCDEM-911 has received sincere gratitude and congratulations from the National Center for
achieving this milestone and for their diligence and commitment to children.
Our team members have been able to utilize their training as recently as this last Sunday, 03/09/2025, when they worked together with KCSO to reunite a child with her parents.
To learn more about NCMEC and the Missing Kids Readiness Program, go to:
https://www.missingkids.org/education/training/mkrp
For a full listing of all MKRP recognized agencies, go to: http://www.missingkids.org/supportus/pon