title: American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care: Missing children.
abstract: Changes within our society are contributing to the apparent increase in the number of missing children. The risks associated with child care in single-parent households and the hurried, inappropriate expectations of children's social maturity are two areas in which pediatricians can legitimately become involved. Pediatricians must be sensitive to the family and social circumstances that place children at high risk. Pediatricians should address the issue of missing children by concentrating on (1) enhancing public awareness of the problem and (2) integrating specific preventive strategies such as screening and parental education into their practices.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D012306:Risk; D012924:Social Conditions; D012940:Social Problems; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States