The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office launched a program Oct. 1 that will create free Amber Alert identification cards for families.

What you need to know

Carlos Tavarez, an officer for the specialist crime prevention unit, said the Amber Alert ID cards were created to streamline the process for missing or lost children. The cards hold the same information needed to send out an Amber Alert, including:

• A photo of the child
• Key information, including name, date of birth and identifying marks
• List of any medical conditions
• Parent information
• Fingerprints of the child

“There’s been a lot of Amber Alerts recently, and this is a simple way to get that information,” Tavarez said. “Sometimes trying to get that kind of information when parents are scared, nervous or in panic mode, is difficult. This makes it easier for the officers and parents to get the information and start looking for the child immediately.”

Tavarez said all parents in Montgomery County are eligible to get an ID card for every child at no cost. The cards are made through the sheriff's office and sponsored by The Kades Corp., which provided $5,000 for the equipment.

Learn more

Parents who are interested in obtaining a card can call the sheriff's office or contact Tavarez directly at 281-297-6523. It is recommended to update the card every two years.