On April 28, 2007, Active Balacned Community Initiative coordianted with the Michigan State Police, The Masons, and youth from the Monroe County Youth Center to provide child identification kits for children who attended the Celebrate Children festival. The kits included DNA swabs, dental impressions, digital finger printing, and video and voice recognition. The booth was a tremendous success with several hundred children receiving identifications.

 

The first step was to register your child's information.

 

There were plenty of families there to keep the volunteers busy.

 

One of the many nice aspects of this event is that it brings law enforcement together with our youth so they can get to know each other.

 

Thanks for helping to plan this event Officer Jarret!

 

Masonic Lodge 27 in Monroe was a vital partner in this event.

 

Even though the line was long, everyone was friendly, helpful and smiling.

 

This is where kids had impressions of their teeth taken.

 

 

 

“Let me try!”

 

“Open up...”

 

Three of the youth volunteers. Thanks for giving back!

 

 

People had the opportunity to pet a police dog while they waited in line.

 

The next stop was collecting cells from inside the cheek for DNA samples.

 

 

 

 

State Troopers also gave everyone a sports water bottle.

 

Every child was video taped against a background that shows their height.

 

 

 

Thanks to all of our volunteers who spent their Saturday helping the children of Monroe.

 

 

 

 

The kids were very interested to see how everything worked.

 

“Can you see me on the screen?”

 

“You can see me!”

 

 

Every child was also finger printed.

 

 

 

Every child took home a packet that holds all of the information for their parents to keep in a safe place, just in case they are ever missing and need to be identified. We hope that no one ever has to use this kit.