The Collin County Sheriff’s Office has launched a new voluntary initiative called “Take Me Home” aimed at helping law enforcement quickly identify and assist residents who may struggle to communicate or find their way home in an emergency.

The program, offered at no cost, invites families and caregivers to register loved ones who have developmental, cognitive or communication challenges, so deputies have critical information at their fingertips during calls for service.

Sheriff’s officials said the registry includes a recent photo, basic physical descriptors, emergency contacts and other details that can make a difference in a stressful situation.

First responders can access this secure database from patrol vehicles or the dispatch center to help recognize and safely reunite individuals with their families if they are found disoriented, lost or unable to respond to questions.

Officials encourage residents with loved ones who have autism, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Down syndrome or other conditions that could affect communication to enroll them in the registry.

Registration is simple and confidential, and the database is accessible only to trained public safety personnel.

A form is available on the Sheriff’s Office pages of the collincountytx.gov site.

Communities also participate in the concept. Police departments in cities such as Murphy, McKinney, Celina and Frisco maintain their own Take Me Home programs, often modeled on an information-sharing system originally developed by the Pensacola, Florida, police.

These local programs operate much the same way: residents provide photos, emergency contacts and helpful notes about communication preferences so officers can respond appropriately if a participant is encountered in distress.

Programs like Take Me Home supplement alert systems such as the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) and the Silver Alert network, which statewide authorities use to broadcast when a missing senior citizen is believed to be in danger.

While Silver Alerts help enlist the public’s eyes and ears, local registries give law enforcement immediate access to personalized information that can speed a safe reunion.

STEAR is also a free, voluntary registry providing local emergency planners and first responders with additional information they may need to locate or serve members of their communities during disasters.

Registration does not guarantee specific service during an emergency and assistance will vary by jurisdiction, the agency said.

Collin County and the cities of Wylie, Sachse and Princeton are among the participants in STEAR. Other cities include Plano, McKinney, Celina and Prosper. 

STEAR officials said registration is important for people with disabilities, who are medically fragile, have limited mobility or communications barriers and those who would require additional medical assistance, personal care or transportation during an emergency.

The registration form on stear.texas.gov asks for such information as name, address, phone number, primary language, emergency contract and caregiver information, medical needs and pets in the home.

Registering in STEAR grants consent to sharing information with first responders and other state agencies during a disaster, but officials stress that registering for STEAR does not guarantee assistance in an emergency.

Since having current information on hand is critical to providing assistance, officials strongly encourage that updated photographs of enrolled persons be submitted every six months and changes to address, phone numbers, emergency contacts or other information be communicated immediately.

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