National Native American Outreach Services Liaison

This Guide to Developing a Tribal Community Response Plan for Missing Person Cases provides a set of guidance documents for Tribal governments and U.S. Attorney’s Offices, working with other partners, to develop a Tribal community response plan to respond to missing person cases that are tailored to the specific needs, resources, and culture of a specific Tribal community.

While we’re not trained mental health professionals, we are brothers and sisters who have gone through situations much like what you are experiencing, and we have so much compassion and empathy for you. We want to help. This guide was written to help you think about and handle different situations and
circumstances.

This guide provides information and practical resources to assist family members and friends with the search for a missing adult loved one. While not an exhaustive list of actions, this guide offers helpful steps to take while searching for a loved one, suggestions about how to cope with trauma, and a list of resources for navigating this difficult situation. 

When your child is missing, your mind races through so many questions – what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. It is overwhelming. We understand. We have been there. We designed this publication to help you take each necessary step, contact the right people, and know how to move forward.