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APCO WINS AWARD FOR
MISSING CHILD POLICY AND STANDARD
August 25,
2008, Washington, DC
- The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials
(APCO) International announced today it is being honored with
the American Society of Association Executives' (ASAE) highest
award. ASAE is presenting its Summit Award through its
Associations Advance America (AAA) Awards program to APCO
International for its nationally recognized standard to assist
public safety telecommunicators in responding to calls reporting
missing and exploited children. The award will be presented at
the 9th Annual Summit Awards Dinner in Washington, DC on
September 23.
"Associations like APCO International often play a lead role
in setting standards that have a direct impact on public health and safety,"
said ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham IV, CAE. "This newly-created,
consensus-based standard for calls pertaining to missing and/or sexually
exploited children goes above and beyond the everyday mission of APCO to improve
training and response by calltakers. Given the potential this new standard has
for protecting children from harmful situations, it is very deserving of
recognition as an ASAE & The Center Summit Award winner."
Now in its 18th year, ASAE's AAA Awards program creates public
awareness about the positive role associations play in improving the quality of
life in communities across America. The Summit Award is the culmination of a
year-long recognition process, with six associations being selected each year.
This year, there were more than 150 total award entries.
Reports of missing and/or sexually exploited children may be
among the most difficult, challenging, and emotionally charged cases public
safety agencies will ever experience. Each stage of the case, from initial call
through successful recovery, forms a critical component of a thorough
child-protection response. Often the initial call builds the foundation and
direction of the response to that missing and/or sexually exploited child.
Specific training and awareness about the overall issue will help each calltaker
understand the critical role they play in this important area of child
protection. APCO International worked with several organizations, including the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, to create this reference for
calltakers to present the process in a logical progression from the initial call
through the first response. This voluntary national standard, available to
download on APCO International's website free of charge, is designed to be an
important tool for agencies to enhance training, policies, and procedures.
About APCO International
The Association of Public-Safety
Communications Officials (APCO) International is the world's
oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the
enhancement of public safety communications. APCO International
serves the professional needs of its 15,000 members worldwide by
creating a platform for setting professional standards,
addressing professional issues and providing education, products
and services for people who manage, operate, maintain and supply
the communications systems used by police, fire and emergency
medical dispatch agencies throughout the world. |
