The Schaumburg Police Department is preparing to introduce a new program aimed to assist special needs residents who may go missing.

The department has bought a Care Track Emergency Response Team kit, using federal grant money as well as donations from the Schaumburg Police Patrol Officers Association, Schaumburg Fraternal Order of Police and the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association of Schaumburg,

People with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alzheimer's or similar conditions may wander from their homes and not be able to find their way back. Often times these individuals are unable to communicate their name or address to emergency responders.

Schaumburg residents with special needs family members may contact the police department to start the screening process. If the criteria are met, the family can purchase a transmitter the size of a wrist watch that the special needs person can wear on their wrist or ankle. Should the person wander from home, Schaumburg police officers trained on the Care Track equipment can track the radio signal.

Care Track International says it takes 30 minutes on average to locate a missing person with their equipment.

This project was initiated after a call from Schaumburg resident Jill Kelly to Chief Brian Howerton. Kelly has an autistic child who has previously wandered from their home.

"It's thrilling to see such a project evolve as a true community partnership from Jill Kelly's first call to me along with the donations from our police officers and citizen police academy alumni that made this all possible," Howerton said.

Schaumburg police officers will begin training in December, and the program is expected to be operational in January.

Schaumburg families with special needs family members who would like more information about the program are asked to contact Sgt. John Nebl at (847) 348-7276 or jnebl@ci.schaumburg.il.us