In 2007, a group of eight young people who each experienced the abduction of a sibling came together to help create What About Me: Coping with the Abduction of a Brother or Sister. At the time, they had never shared their stories about the abduction of their brother or sister with others, yet they came together in the hope that their words and experiences would help others facing similar situations. And in the process, these remarkable young men and women created a strong bond of friendship and support because they knew what each other was going through. They understood their pain and felt the same emotions. They knew what helped and what did not, and they learned that by sharing their experiences, they were able to help others as well as themselves.
In 2024, six young people who each experienced a missing or abducted sibling came together to update the sibling Guide, which now bears a new, more inclusive title, What About Me? Finding your path forward when your brother or sister is missing. These siblings spoke about the personal and emotional journey they experienced when their brother or sister was abducted in the United States or abroad, was lured away, trafficked, ran away, or was murdered. By sharing their experiences through adversity, their contributions to the Guide have expanded its value and ability to support an even wider audience.
We extend our sincere thanks to the following contributors to the first and second editions of the Guide:
1st edition | Robin, Erika, and Marcus, siblings of Tamara
2nd edition | Kimber, sister of Mikelle
1st and 2nd editions | Heather, sister of Molly
2nd edition | Rysa, sister of Maayimuna “Muna”
2nd edition | Cory, brother of Dylan
2nd edition | Sayeh, sister of Sara
1st edition | Martha, sister of Jimmy
2nd edition | Zack, brother of Jessika
1st and 2nd editions | Carmen, Amy, and Trevor (1st edition), siblings of Jacob
This Guide has been a labor of love for all involved. Without the vision, compassion, and strength of so many, it would not have been possible. We want to first thank Ron Laney, former Associate Administrator of the Child Protection Division, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice; and Helen Connelly, Associate, National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College (NCJTC-FVTC). Through their vision and compassion, this Guide as well as many other resources have provided support, encouragement, help, and resources needed by so many families.
We also want to thank the dedicated professionals serving the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program (AATTAP) for the leadership, direction, and dedication they have given to the development of this Guide and so many other valuable resources. They include:
Helen Connelly, Associate, National Criminal Justice Training Center, FVTC
Bonnie Ferenbach, Program Manager, AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program, NCJTC-FVTC
Janell Rasmussen, Program Administrator, AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program, NCJTC-FVTC