Lisa* Is Safe

Lisa* Is Safe

When Lisa*, 15, was reported missing from her home in the Oakland area, her family feared she may have been staying with a “boyfriend” and moving between locations in Alameda and the International Boulevard corridor in Oakland.

Finding Kids accepted the case on and our investigators got right to work. They canvassed key locations, including an apartment building in Alameda and areas near International Boulevard in Oakland. They spoke with people in the community, followed leads, reviewed possible connections, and distributed hundreds of missing child posters.

Soon, Lisa contacted her godmother and said she wanted to come home. The next day, just seven days after Finding Kids began looking for her, Lisa was safe at home. Investigators believe the posters and canvassing made the difference. When Lisa saw that people were looking for her, she learned she was not alone and not forgotten.

*name changed for confidentiality

 

Today, predators can reach vulnerable children through phones, social media, gaming platforms, and the internet, often before families realize something is wrong. Finding Kids responds through three core programs: Recover. Care. Target. We help locate missing and exploited children, support families during and after recovery, and work with law enforcement to identify and disrupt those who exploit youth. Our work continues after a child is found because recovery is only the beginning. By combining investigations, aftercare, and prevention, we help children return safely to their homes, schools, and communities while building a future where every vulnerable child receives help before crisis becomes exploitation. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes directly towards keeping kids safe. We cannot do this work without your support.

*Names has been changed to protect the victim’s identity.