Child ID program to be held May 10

May 3, 2008

Public Opinion Online

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_9047635?source=most_emailed

WAYNESBORO -- Parents and guardians are invited to bring their children to a free Child Identification Program Saturday, May 10 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Hooverville Elementary School, East Main Street, Waynesboro. Run by The Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation, the Masonic Child Identification Program gives law enforcement and recovery officials the necessary materials to find missing children while giving parents peace of mind. All items generated during a CHIP event are given to the child's family, and no copies are retained by the Masons or given to any government agency. The CHIP program includes the following: - Video and Still Photo: A digital video is recorded in front of a height chart backdrop, and a digital still photograph also is recorded. The still photo captures the child's appearance. The CHIP interview captures a child's appearance, speech, mannerisms and other characteristics. - Personal characteristics. These are recorded and saved on a mini-CD that can quickly be distributed by law enforcement officials to the media to reach a large audience. - Fingerprints: Each child's fingerprints are taken in the traditional manner, using inkless print pads (safe for children), to provide clear and readable prints. - DNA: A DNA kit is provided to the parent or guardian to be completed at home as soon as possible. The DNA kit includes envelopes for hair samples, nail clippings and an oral swab for a saliva sample.

- All of these items are placed in a small vinyl "Purple Packet" that parents can put in a safe place for emergency reference, or can take with them on vacations and trips away from home. The "Purple Packet" is fully compatible with, and has been adopted by, the Pennsylvania "AMBER ALERT" system. Since the start of the CHIP program, almost 300,000 children have been CHIP'd. The Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation and the Masonic lodges of Pennsylvania have committed to continue identifying youth in Pennsylvania in 2007. The program is provided for free.