RFK Jr. Announces Missing Autism Alert Initiative in Rochester

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was in Rochester today to announce a national initiative aimed at finding missing children and adults with autism.

Rochester chosen for national initiative launch

A news release describes the National Autism Missing and Endangered Persons Alert initiative as a partnership with the Department of Justice and the Federal Emergency Management Agency that will work on strengthening coordination among emergency management agencies, law enforcement, first responders, and community partners throughout the nation “to improve preparedness and response when autistic individuals are reported missing.” In making the announcement at the Olmsted County Public Safety Training Center in Rochester, Kennedy stated that the initiative will also establish a national framework of best practices to address the leading causes of preventable injury and death among autistic individuals.

New alert aims to improve response when autistic people go missing

“When an autistic child or adult goes missing, every minute matters,” said Secretary Kennedy. “President Trump has made improving the lives of Americans with autism and their families a priority. We are bringing federal, state, and local partners together to improve prevention, speed the response, and help bring autistic children and adults home safely.”

Project Lifesaver helped put Rochester in national spotlight

The announcement of the initiative occurred after a roundtable discussion with representatives of local organizations and law enforcement agencies. Kennedy indicated Rochester was chosen as the site to announce the initiative because of the success of the Project Lifesaver program in the community. According to the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office, the program was brought to Rochester in 2007 in partnership with the RT Autism Awareness Foundation.

Olmsted County Public Safety Training Center (Google)

How Project Lifesaver works

The Sheriff's Office website describes how Project Lifesaver involves equipping autistic individuals or others with cognitive conditions with a tracking device that can be utilized in the event they go missing. It serves approximately 75 individuals in the community.