PIERRE, S.D - The SDCHIP program continues efforts to identify children across South Dakota as events become available. The South Dakota Masons have hosted 152 events and identified 15,292 kids since the program’s inception in South Dakota in 2007. Attorney General Jackley is encouraging those who want to bring the program to their area to contact the SD Masons to schedule an event.“Keeping an updated ID of your child can make an immediate difference in his or her recovery if the child goes missing,” said Jackley. “This proactive approach is a simple way to protect children and respect privacy by sending all information home with the parents or guardian.”SDCHIP is part of MASONICHIP, an initiative of the Masons of North American that generates completed packages of various identifying items of children for parents or guardians. The types of identification that are collected include: dental impressions, DNA cheek swab, digital still photo, fingerprints and video imaged interview. All of the identifying materials generated by the program are returned to the child’s family to be kept as an identification kit in the event that a child becomes missing. This kit will aid law enforcement in the recovery of a missing child. The program is offered to the public at no charge. Agencies who assist in the implementation of the program include: Masoniship International, South Dakota Academy of Physician Assistants, South Dakota Sheriff’s Association, South Dakota Dental Association, South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Attorney General’s Office. To schedule an event please visit www.sd-chip.org or contact the South Dakota Grand Lodge Office at 605-332-2051.