NCSO Kevin and Avonte K-9 Program

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) will utilize funding to establish and operate a holistic, locally based, proactive program to locate or prevent the wandering of individuals with forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease or developmental disabilities such as autism, who due to their condition, wander from homes or other safe environments. The proposed Bringing the Lost Home (BLH) Project will assist emergency personnel in improving the search performance for locating missing residents, especially these populations that have a high propensity to wander. The NCSO plans to purchase the BLH program from Scent Evidence K9. The BLH Project utilizes non-restrictive interventions in preparing individuals and families, and in responding to individuals who have wandered from safe environments. The lead agency of the BLH Project will be the Newton County Sheriff’s Office. NCSO will partner with View Point Health, Project Lifesaver, and the Newton County School System Special Needs Education to raise awareness of the wandering risks of these populations, and to ensure that Individual Preparedness Plans are in place. In addition, emergency management agencies and law enforcement officials in the surrounding counties will have access to missing persons response services through memorandums of understanding.