Division of Criminal Justice Services

Missing Persons Clearinghouse
1-800-346-3543

2018 National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest


2017 First Place Winner

Contest Rules

Applicants must be in the fifth grade.

Artwork should reflect and must include this phrase in its entirety on the posterBring Our Missing Children Home.

The theme may be depicted in the student‛s artwork through one or a combination of illustrations (e.g., signs and symbols, people, abstract, industry, wildlife) and can be created using materials such as acrylics, watercolor, pencils, charcoal, magic markers, spray paint, crayons, and pastels. Digitally produced images, collages, cutouts, and stamping will not be eligible for consideration.

The finished poster must measure 8½ x 14 inches.

The poster must be submitted with a completed application, including a description of the poster and a brief legibly written or typed biography of the artist. A parent or guardian must also complete a parent/guardian release and consent form.

Judging Criteria

Complete contest rules must be followed at all levels of the competition. Incomplete submissions or incorrectly sized posters will not be eligible for judging.

Posters will be judged on:

  • Creativity
  • Reflection of the contest theme
  • Originality in design

Written applications will be judged on:

  • Comprehension of the theme
  • Clarity
  • Grammar and syntax appropriate to the fifth-grade level

Awards - State Level

The New York State 1st Place winner will be entered in the national judging competition. The New York State winners will be awarded Amazon gift cards:  1st Place ($100), 2nd Place ($75), 3rd Place ($50).

Qualified entries will be displayed at the Empire State Plaza Concourse during the week of Missing Children’s Day on May 25. DCJS may also feature the artwork in publications, exhibits, displays and on websites.

Awards - National Level

Each state winner, whose poster is selected to go to the national judging competition, will receive a national award certificate from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The national winner, his or her teacher and parents or guardians, and the state manager will be invited to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Justice Department’s National Missing Children‛s Day ceremony on May 23. Transportation and lodging will be provided. The national winner will also receive a national award certificate, a United States Savings Bond, and a professional print of their poster.

The national winner and one parent or guardian will be invited to the 2019 ceremony to present the award to the poster contest winner.

The National Winner will be notified in April. Travel arrangements are initiated for attendance at the 2018 National Missing Children’s Day Ceremony.

Winning Poster

The national winning poster:

  • Becomes the property of the Justice Department and will be displayed at its offices, congressional offices, and other locations as determined by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Any applicable copyrights will be held by those offices.
  • May be used in publications, exhibits, displays and on websites, as determined by OJJDP and U.S. DOJ.
  • Will be presented as the national symbol for the 2019 Missing Children's Day.

Entries must be postmarked by January 26th and sent to:

Division of Criminal Justice Services
Missing Persons Clearinghouse
80 South Swan Street
Albany, NY 12210

For more information call 1-800-346-3542 or email missingpersons@dcjs.ny.gov
Click here for an application
Click here for a parent/guardian release form