What is WA-CHIP? A partnership between the Masonic Families of Washington and their Local Communities! 

CHIP stands for CHildren Identification Programs

This program gives the parents of every participating child the tools they need for indentification of that child should he or she ever become missing. Qualified individuals make a video of the child, take an impression of the teeth, make a DNA swab, and take the child's fingerprints. These are put into a kit which is given to the parents for safekeeping and nothing is kept by CHIP. Give yourself peace of mind and participate when CHIP's comes to your area!

The probability of recovering a child is directly proportional to the quality and quantity of accurate, current identification data available on them, and the speed and breadth of the response to the situation.

It is the goal of CHIP's to help families be prepared for a lost, missing, or kidnapped child by having, in hand, the exact kind of high quality information / data on the child that news agencies and law enforcement need to provide the best and most diverse response to the crises.

The CHIP's program includes the following components:

VIDEO: A brief structured video (DVD) interview that can be quickly distributed to the media in order to reach a huge audience. This short structured / standardized interview answers key questions needed if a child is missing.

FINGERPRINTING: Fingerprinting is a well-known means of identification. Resourceful parents keep fingerprints available should the need arise.

TOOTHPRINTS®: A tooth-print bite impression is quick and easy. Teeth, like fingerprints are unique. A dental imprint gives both accurate and important information for identification purposes. The tooth-print impression plate also holds DNA that can also identify the child. The impression also holds a saliva sample that can be used by tracking dogs to help find a child.

DNA SWAB: Washington CHIP's program takes a separate spit and cellular DNA swab from the inside of the oral cavity (inside of cheek). This helps ensure that a quality DNA sample is obtained. This also backs up any DNA that is obtained on the Tooth-Print.

Be sure to check our Calendar and plan ahead to bring your children to the CHIP's booth. Or contact District 19 MAC CHIP committee through our contact us form to schedule an event at your community center, school or place of worship. The peace of mind that having the CHIP's kit at home will give you is priceless.