How can someone who is lost be unreported as missing? One common situation is when someone disappears but his/her family is unsuccessful in obtaining an official missing persons report by law enforcement. The families who contact us say that the stigma of addiction and mental illness sometimes prevents a loved one's disappearance from being taken seriously. Other 'missing, missing' persons may be chronically homeless and estranged from family or have no family that cares to report him or her as missing. They often end up unaccounted for in any official database which puts them in the most vulnerable of situations.

We are searching for agency partners who can help us treat this social epidemic as we continue to provide guidance to families who encounter obstacles to reporting a lost loved one as missing and what to do if he or she is found alive. Expecting a person who has been on the streets to just 'come home' is often an unrealistic expectation for someone with mental illness and/or co-occurring addiction issues. As a society, we must place a priority on expanding education to those who may interact with these unaccounted for lost ones in jails, on the streets, in hospitals, and homeless shelters as well as provide realistic and affordable treatment options in an effort to prevent these problems from happening again and again. With the right plan for 'success' then 'success stories' are possible. But first, we must acknowledge the problem exists.

"Missing and unidentified persons represent, in the most poignant sense, lost dreams and hopes. My intention is to bring resolution and justice to all missing and undentified persons everywhere by elevating public awareness. The 'missing, missing' belong to all of us in the same sense that my sister Ashley belongs to me." - Libba Phillips, excerpt from The Lost Highway Project (c) 2005

Find out how, with your help, we are making a difference...

Educating and Training the Officials

For every Law Enforcement Officer, Health Care Provider, Educator, Social Worker and other person we train and inform with our Agency Guide on how to solve and prevent these cases from occurring, the capacity to save lives is enhanced for the rest of their career, which could mean thousands of potential unreported missing persons being appropriately accounted for, returned to their families and given closure. Imagine the change that can come about when not one, but thousands, of service providers and officers become informed and trained.

Guiding and Informing the Families

For every family of an Unreported Missing person who downloads our Resource Guide and takes action on the critical steps, we help to alleviate years of suffering, helplessness and frustration. With this information, families across the country have been able to find their missing loved ones and create more hopeful outcomes. Families may also participate in our landmark research project, The Missing Link Registry Project , so that together we can save lives.

How You Can Help

With your help we can reach and save countless more lives by making it possible for those officers, service providers, and families in crisis to be informed and empowered.

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"My son was missing for 11 days, and thanks to your website, Outpost for Hope helped me find my son." Nancy.

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Feedback from the 2007 CIT Conference .