AMBER Advocate – Winter 2016
In This Issue:
A recap of the 2016 Tribal Symposium featuring comments from Cindy McCain; plus, a look at how AMBER Alert is expanding into Mexico, and interstate cooperation brings a child home safely
2016 Tribal Symposium Recap
The Tribal Child Protection Leadership Forum and Symposium began with a traditional Native American blessing that included the words, “Oh child where are you?” The events took place in Scottsdale, Arizona, July 19-21, 2016, and included representatives from more than 25 tribes who shared lessons learned and experiences with AMBER Alert Coordinators, Missing Persons Clearinghouse Managers and Child Abduction Response Team (CART) members.
A Victim's Story: We Have to Remember Who We Are to Break the Cycle of Violence
Jeri Jimenez has had a lifetime of trauma. She was molested at age 4, grew up in a family with physical and sexual violence and became a victim of sex trafficking after leaving her violent husband...
Navajo Tribal Members Use Walk to Raise Awareness About Abduction Victims
Tribal members joined together for a 5-mile walk to Window Rock, the seat of the Navajo Nation, to raise awareness about the AMBER Alert and abducted children. They carried banners, signs and ribbons to keep the memory of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike alive following her May 2016 abduction and murder...
New Mexico Will Issue AMBER Alerts for the Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation will now issue AMBER Alerts through the New Mexico Child Abduction Alert System. The state would also notify Arizona and Utah if the Navajo Nation issues an AMBER Alert. New Mexico will issue the alerts as the Navajo Nation Alert System Task Force works to fully develop an AMBER Alert program, a 911 system and an improved identification mechanism for homes in rural areas...
Teen's Murder Highlights Dangers Facing Native American Trafficking Victims
Casey Jo Pipestem was raised in Oklahoma City as a member of the Seminole Tribe. Casey’s grandmother raised her until she passed away when Casey was just 7 years old. She then lived with other relatives, but found it difficult to fit in while living in rural communities...
Faces of the AMBER Alert Network: Mexico
Janet Turnbull is doing her best to make sure borders never get in the way of finding an abducted child. Since 2013 she has been working in Mexico City, Mexico, as a legal advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development and Training (OPDAT). Her focus is on human trafficking, which puts her at the center of making sure AMBER Alerts work in all countries...
On the Front Lines: South Dakota
On August 8, 2016, detectives in King County, Washington, learned of the alleged abduction of 2 boys by a suspect on his way to Chicago. Paul Brown allegedly took his 3-year-old son Chance and 1-year-old son Hunter and told their mother he would not return...
AMBER Alert International
European Countries Pledge to Do More to Help Missing Children Nine European countries have signed an agreement to work closely together to help find missing children taken across national borders. The joint declaration was signed in November 2016 by Ministers of Interior Affairs from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and...
AMBER Alert Briefs
Short News Clips on AMBER Alert & Child Protection Issues...