The Mahaska County E911 Communications Center is implementing a new Special Needs Registry to help public safety agencies quickly identify and safely assist individuals who may wander or become separated from their caregivers.
The initiative comes after law enforcement has been called several times over the past year after community members located children who had wandered from their homes or caregivers. When an individual is non-verbal or unable to provide identifying information, it can be difficult for first responders to quickly determine who they are and locate their family.
The voluntary registry is designed to provide critical information to public safety personnel during an emergency. Information submitted to the registry is confidential and stored in a secure database accessible only by the Mahaska County E911 Communications Center.
During an emergency, information from the registry may be provided to the public safety unit or units handling the incident, including law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical personnel.
Mahaska County E911 encourages families to register neurodivergent loved ones, particularly individuals who may be prone to wandering or elopement.
Parents, primary caregivers and guardians who would like to register a loved one can contact the Mahaska County E911 Communications Center at 641-673-0347 or dispatch@mahaskacountyia.gov.
Registration forms can be emailed to families or picked up at the Mahaska County Law Center, located at 214 High Ave E in Oskaloosa. The E911 Communications Center is located in the basement of the building.
The Special Needs Registry is intended to provide first responders with information that may help them identify and safely reunite individuals with their families during an emergency.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/OskaloosaIowaPD
