Earlier this week, NENA introduced the first class in the association’s new Online Education Program. The Missing Persons for Telecommunicators course is designed to give public safety telecommunicators the knowledge and tools necessary to handle calls involving abductions, missing persons, runaway children, or found persons.

“When a person goes missing, the adage is that ‘every minute is a mile,’” said NENA CEO, Brian Fontes. “The reality is that missing person calls need to be handled correctly from the start. If they are not, then lives may be lost. This course is designed to provide emergency communications professionals with vital and affordable training that will help them do their jobs better every single day. I believe we have achieved this, and look forward to releasing additional web-based offerings in the near future.”

The Missing Persons for Telecommunicators class consists of six interactive 30-minute modules that explore all call-handling issues associated with persons who are considered to be at risk, including seniors and people with disabilities. Participants will learn about model policies and protocols designed to assist 9-1-1 center personnel in processing these calls the right way from the moment the call is answered, and will gain an understanding of their roles and responsibilities when handling missing person incidents. Topics including Amber Alerts, NCIC and CPIC entries, and organizing local law enforcement authorities are covered.