This page is written to be read fast. If your child is missing right now, stop reading after the first list and call 911.
What do I do right now?
- Call 911 immediately. Do not wait to see if your child turns up, and do not search on your own for "a few minutes" first. There is no waiting period for reporting a missing child in Florida.
- Check water first, at the same time. If another adult is with you, one person calls 911 while the other checks the pool, spa, canal, pond or lake closest to where your child was last seen. If you are alone, put 911 on speakerphone and check the nearest water while you talk.
- Tell the dispatcher your child is autistic and anything that changes how searchers should look or approach (see the script below).
- Get a photo ready. Pull up the most recent full-body photo on your phone so you can send or show it to officers.
- Keep someone at home. If you can, one adult stays at the house in case your child comes back, and keeps the phone line free.
Many autistic children who wander are drawn to water, and drowning can happen in minutes. That is why water comes first. "Check water first" is widely used wandering guidance for autistic children, not a legal rule. For the full picture, read our guide to drowning prevention for autistic children in Florida.
What does Florida law say police must do?
Florida's missing-person statute, section 937.021, sets clear duties once a parent or guardian files a report that a child is missing. The law enforcement agency receiving the report must:
- immediately inform all of its on-duty officers about the report;
- communicate the report to every other law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the county;
- within 2 hours of receiving the report, send it for entry into the Florida Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information Center databases; and
- within 90 days, send it to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
The 2026 text of the statute also says an agency "may not require a reporter to present an order that a child be taken into custody or any other such order before accepting a report that a child is missing." You do not need custody papers to make a report. The report is made to the agency that covers the city or county where your child was last seen.
Under section 937.0201, every missing child (anyone under 18) counts as a "missing endangered person" by definition. You do not have to prove your child is in danger before police treat the case seriously.
What should I tell the 911 dispatcher?
Dispatchers ask questions in their own order. Answer them, and make sure these points get said. You can read this script out loud.
"My child, [name], is missing. [He/She/They] is [age] and autistic. [Name] was last seen at [place] about [number] minutes ago, wearing [clothes and shoes]. [Name] [does not speak / speaks a few words / uses a device or picture cards] and [may not answer to their name / may hide / may run from sirens or uniforms]. There is a [pool / canal / pond / lake] [distance] from here. [Name] is attracted to [water / trains / a store / a specific place]. [Name] [has / does not have] a medical condition: [details]. [Name] [is / is not] enrolled in a sheriff's tracking program."
Points that often help searchers find an autistic child safely:
- How your child communicates. Searchers may otherwise expect a lost child to call out or answer.
- Reactions to lights, sirens, dogs or shouting. Some children hide or run from them. Ask whether officers can approach quietly once they are close.
- Favorite places and interests. A child who loves water, trains, elevators or a certain store may head straight there.
- What calms your child. A favorite song, a phrase, a character or a snack can help an officer connect.
- Any ID your child carries, such as a bracelet, shoe tag or a card in a pocket.
Who searches where in the first 10 minutes?
Use this as an example of how a household can split up while officers are on their way. Adjust it to the people you have. It is not an official police protocol, and you should always follow the instructions dispatch and officers give you.
| Person | Job |
|---|---|
| Adult 1 | Calls 911, stays on the line, answers questions, sends the photo |
| Adult 2 | Checks the nearest water: your pool, then neighbors' pools, canals, ponds and lakes |
| Adult 3 or a neighbor | Checks inside the house and car: closets, under beds, washer and dryer, cars in the driveway and garage, sheds |
| Someone who stays put | Waits at the house, keeps the door open and phone free, meets officers |
Children who wander sometimes hide close by, so check small spaces inside before assuming your child has left. Cars matter too: a child who gets into a parked car on a hot Florida day is in danger within minutes. Our guide to hot cars and car-seat escapes explains why.
Will there be an alert?
Only law enforcement decides whether to request a public alert. Florida's statute refers to AMBER Alerts and Missing Child Alerts for children, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement acts as the state coordinator. The Purple Alert is a different program: under section 937.0205 it covers missing adults (18 and older) with certain cognitive or developmental disabilities, so it does not apply to a child. Our explainer on the Purple Alert in Florida covers what changes when your child turns 18.
If your child is enrolled in a sheriff's tracking program such as Project Lifesaver, say so on the first call. Those programs depend on the caregiver reporting quickly. See Project Lifesaver and sheriff registries in Florida to find out whether your county has one.
What should I do after my child is found?
- Get a medical check if there is any doubt. If your child was in or near water, was out in the heat, or seems hurt or unwell, tell the officers and get medical help. Your child's doctor decides what follow-up is needed.
- Keep things calm. Your child may be frightened, overloaded or unable to explain. Quiet, a familiar item and time to recover usually help more than questions.
- Write down what happened while it is fresh: the time, the door or gate used, where your child went and what drew them there. That record is the start of a better prevention plan.
- Tell your child's team. If your child is in ABA, tell the BCBA. Hope Center's safety guidance is the same at every level: if a child cannot be kept safe, call 911, then report to the behavior analyst, who returns the call within 24 hours.
How do I get ready before it ever happens?
Ten minutes of preparation now saves precious minutes later. Make a one-page "missing child sheet" and keep it on your phone and on the fridge:
- a current full-body photo and a close-up of the face, updated every few months;
- height, weight, hair, eye color, glasses, scars or birthmarks;
- how your child communicates and whether they answer to their name;
- favorite places, interests and words that calm them;
- fears and triggers, such as sirens or dogs;
- medical conditions, medications and allergies;
- a list of every pool, canal and pond within walking distance.
Then work through the prevention layers in our wandering and elopement safety plan: door alarms and locks, fencing, an ID your child will tolerate, and telling neighbors. Our comparison of GPS trackers and door alarms can help you pick devices.
Can ABA therapy help my child stay safe?
Barriers and supervision come first, and skills add another layer. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) can turn safety worries into goals your child practices in small steps, for example:
- stopping and coming back when an adult says "stop" or shows a stop card;
- answering to their name from a distance;
- asking before opening a door, with words, a picture card or a device;
- showing an ID card to a helper; and
- tolerating a wristband or shoe tag.
Our guide to teaching safety words like "stop" and "wait" shows how this is taught. At Hope Center, every program is written by a BCBA and reviewed by our clinical director, sessions are delivered by Registered Behavior Technicians, and parents are trained weekly, so everyone uses the same words at home, at school and in the community. Progress differs from child to child, and skills never replace locks, alarms and supervision.
If wandering is a worry in your family, contact Hope Center or call 561-337-8865 for a free consultation and a free check of your insurance benefits. Tell us about the wandering at intake so it is part of the assessment.