Interviews will be conducted in a nationwide sample of 40,000 households to determine the annual incidence of missing children. In addition, researchers will analyze data on the number of children abducted and murdered by strangers and study law enforcement agency records of family and nonfamily kidnappings, abductions, and related crime against children. Data on throwaways (youth abandoned or forced from their homes) also will be examined. In addition, a survey of residential facilities will examine how many residents run away, and interviews with returned runaways will explore their experiences. The study should provide important data to help parents and the public better understand the dimensions of the problem and identify those factors that place children at the greatest risk of becoming missing. To make this information available as soon as possible, a series of preliminary reports, summaries, technical reports, and final reports will be released. Three special topic papers will examine the policy implications of the findings. A list of writings on missing children is provided.