Message from the Steering Committee of the Missing Persons Network of Wisconsin

Dear Friends and Families:

It has been a challenging year for the Missing Persons Network of WI, formerly Y.E.S., Inc. We have created opportunities for growth and improvement in the face of these challenges. Administrative due diligence and external and internal surveys from the community, state and nation have produced many startling revelations.

First and foremost our surveys indicated a need to change the Steering Committee to include individuals who were qualified and certified to conduct searches and investigations in collaboration with law enforcement. They further revealed the need for professional records and accounts of the cases and interactions with families of the victims of missing persons.

Finally our surveys indicated that checks and balances and transparency was lacking in both case work and in financial accountability to the Committee and community.

To this end, the new Steering Committee has taken responsible steps to provide a financial audit, management investigation and case work audit in order to determine the course of action needed to provide professional services and support to the missing persons cause and community of professional law enforcement we partner with.

The strength of the Missing Persons Network of Wisconsin rests with its core values that are held by each of our Committee members. Those are integrity and trust building. Without the ability to trust the statements of an organization that is counted on by the most vulnerable of individuals, the missing and exploited, there can be no public trust. Without the ability to create transparent accounts of cases and finances of the organization there can be no public trust.

To this end our organization, the Missing Persons Network of Wisconsin is a stronger and more viable organization. We hope to serve families in our community be strengthening the message of prevention and education so that missing persons as a cause is eliminated once and for all. And, God forbid, should the occasion arise where a loved one is missing – we will have the network of professionals on standby to support our families in need.

Most Sincerely,

The Steering Committee
The Missing Persons Network of Wisconsin

Our New Direction

Over the past few months, our organization has experienced many internal challenges. We have worked diligently to face and overcome the situations placed before us – and have been successful doing so.

The foundation has been positioned to serve the public more efficiently and effectively than at any time in the organization’s history. Our restructured organization will be ready to respond in case of emergency, but our focus will be on personal safety and community outreach. Most notably with the following abilities:

1. Our On-Site Search Assistance Team (O.S.S.A.T.) is available for mobilization 24 hours-a-day; 365 days a year. This specialized team of volunteers has received training from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, as well as various law enforcement agencies.

2. Our office is equipped to provide poster creation, printing and distribution; and use of equipment such as phone lines, computers with high speed internet, printers, and office supplies for families in crisis due to a missing persons case.

3. The educational programs form the cornerstone of the Missing Persons of Wisconsin mission. From the experts on internet safety that participate in our fall conferences to the information produced for children and parents. Our programs are chosen to “empower children and parents” with the skills and abilities to make safe decisions.

Families who are in crisis with a missing family member are never contacted for donations or other financial support. All of our programs and services are provided at no cost – without exception.