| ID card program offers parents peace of mind |
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Krehling, 6, is not a criminal, but a first grader at Steelton-Highspire Elementary School participating in a program called Ident-A-Kid. Ident-A-Kid is in partnership with the Child Rescue Network, which provides identification cards for parents, as an annual identification record of their children that can be carried in a wallet. Statistics show that nearly a million children are reported lost, missing, or separated from their parents each year, according to Joyce Gold, a representative for CRN. “Throughout America, officials concur that the possession of a complete profile is the best assurance of a quick and safe recovery of a lost or missing child, but less than 3 percent of parents have this in their wallet,” said Gold, who attends schools throughout Central Pennsylvania and offers the identification service to school districts. There is no charge for the school to host the service. Parents can choose whether they want their child to participate in the program. The program offers multiple cards so that each parent, caregiver, grandparent, or anyone who spends time with the child, can have one. The card carries information such as height, weight, eye color, hair color, date of birth, date issued, a color photo, and a fingerprint. The card can be scanned in and put on screens in large stadiums or arenas, or be used by police trying to locate a missing child. Ident-A-Kid recommends that the child have their information updated annually. The company also offers pre-drivers ID cards for middle school-age children. “An Ident-A-Kid card in your wallet will give the peace of mind to know that you are prepared to respond immediately in the event of an emergency,” said Gold. by Debra Schell Press And Journal Staff : 10/14/2009
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