Florida Missing Children's Day Foundation
FMCD Contests and Important Links
Poster, Essay, and National Anthem Contest
The National Missing Children’s Day poster contest sponsored by the United States’ Department of Justice’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Office, the essay contest sponsored by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Department of Education, and the Florida Missing Children’s Day Foundation, and the National Anthem Contest sponsored by the Florida Missing Children’s Day Foundation are to be held in 2023.
The goal of these contests and events is to provide teachers, families and communities with the opportunity to discuss ways for children to stay safe from abduction. Students are invited to watch Florida Missing Children’s Day live on Monday, September 11th, 2023, at the Capitol Courtyard in Tallahassee, at 10 a.m. on the Florida Channel or via the web at www.theFloridachannel.org. You may also visit the Florida Missing Children’s Day Foundation website by clicking www.fmcdf.org to find pictures and video links from past Florida Missing Children’s Day ceremonies. The statewide poster contest winner's poster will be on display, the statewide essay contest winner will read their essay, and the national anthem contest winner will sing “The Star Spangled-Banner” at the ceremony.
Poster Contest
Please join us in participating in the poster contest for 2023. The state-wide poster contest winner will have their poster made into a billboard that will be shown around the state. In addition, the state-wide poster winner will receive a prize on Florida Missing Children’s Day. CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED FOR 2023.
Essay Contest
FDLE, the Florida Department of Education, and the Florida Missing Children's Day Foundation present the 2023 essay contest for 5th grade students across the state. The goal of this contest is to promote safety awareness among Florida's children and encourage them to proactively think of ways to keep themselves safe from abduction. The state-wide essay contest winner will be invited to attend Florida Missing Children's Day on Monday, September 11th, receive a prize packet at the Florida Missing Children's Day ceremony that includes $100 dollars. We ask that schools only submit ONE entry per school. Homeschooled and after school students may submit their submissions directly. Please submit all entries to fmcd@fdle.state.fl.us. Please click below to download the Essay Contest Packet. We are looking forward to the essay contest submissions.
DUE DATE: March 10, 2023
National Anthem Contests
FDLE and the Florida Missing Children's Day Foundation present the 2023 National Anthem Contest for Florida Missing Children's Day. All children in 1st thru 8th grade are invited to participate. Applicants may sing solo or in a group up to 3 individuals. The winner(s) of this contest will be invited to attend and sing the National Anthem at Florida Missing Children's Day on Monday, September 11, 2023, at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida. To be considered for the contest, you must upload your application and video singing the first and second verse of the National Anthem. This contest is UPCOMING. SUBMISSION DETAILS WILL BE POSTED IN FEBRUARY.
Important Note: If you are selected as the state winner, prize is contingent on singing at Florida Missing Children's Day on Monday, September 11, 2023. The winner is expected to sing all FOUR verses of the National Anthem at the beginning of the ceremony. The state-wide winner will receive a signed certificate with the Florida Governor's signature, 1 hotel night stay in Tallahassee on Sunday, September 10th, reimbursement for 1 vehicle's worth of gas at the state contract rate, and 2 individual meal reimbursement at the state contract rate. Please note that if a group participates, the prize, hotel reimbursement and meal reimbursement will be split between winners. Winners families will be expected to pay the difference. If you have any questions, please email fmcd@fdle.state.fl.us. Submissions are NOT allowed to be emailed.
Important Links
The Missing Endangered Person Information Clearinghouse (MEPIC): website
MEPIC is the central repository of information regarding missing endangered persons in Florida. MEPIC assists law enforcement agencies and Florida's citizens in finding missing persons by providing analytical services and engaging the public in the search. MEPIC is responsible for releasing all AMBER Alerts, Missing Child Alerts, Enhanced Missing Child Alerts. and State Silver Alerts in Florida. Sign up for Alerts by clicking here.
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): website
NamUs is a national information clearinghouse and resource center for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases across the United States. Resources are provided at no cost to law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, allied forensic professions and family members of missing persons.
Florida's Sexual Offenders and Predators Search (SOPS) website
SOPS contains public record information on sexual offenders and sexual predators under Florida law because of a conviction for a sex-related crime.
Florida Unidentified Decedents Database (FLUIDDB) website
A central clearinghouse for family, friends, or law enforcement searching for a missing person. FLUIDDB contains information about people who have been found deceased in Florida and whose identities remain unknown.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) website
The nation's clearinghouse and reporting center for all issues related to the prevention of and recovery from child victimization.