What condition must be met for activating an endangered missing child alert?

The condition that must be met for activating an endangered missing child alert is that the disappearance poses a credible threat to the child's safety. This requirement is critical because the purpose of the alert system is to quickly disseminate information to law enforcement and the public in order to locate and protect children who may be in situations that threaten their wellbeing.

Activation of the alert relies on assessing the circumstances surrounding the child's disappearance, and it is determined that there is reasonable suspicion that the child may be in danger. This could include factors such as perceived risks due to an abduction or a hazardous situation from which the child could not safely remove themselves.

Other contextual factors such as the age of the child, their known whereabouts, or a confirmed runaway status do not inherently qualify for the alert, as these conditions do not automatically indicate a threat to the child's safety.