OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Omaha Police Department is teaming up with a local nonprofit to reduce the number of missing children in the city.

Police Lt. Tracy Scherer tells the Omaha World-Herald that the department realized there’s a systematic problem behind the more than 3,000 reports of missing children each year in Omaha.

The majority of the reports involve youths who run away from home. Scherer says many children could be running from abuse.

Scherer says the department is working to identify cases where officers believe a child is in danger or has been abused. Police will then take the child to Project Harmony, a child advocacy center.

The center can interview children about home life, provide a medical exam or therapy and contact Child Protective Services, if needed.

Project Harmony also plans to reach out to affected families.

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