The National Center for Missing an Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a private, non-profit organization established in the United States in 1984 under United States government mandate. Largely funded by The US Justice Department, the NCMEC acts as clearinghouse of information and as a contact point to parents, children, law enforcement agencies, schools, and communities providing assistance to help recover missing children and to raise public awareness about ways to help prevent child abduction, child sexual abuse and child pornography. The Congressional mandate leading to establishment of the Center was advocated by John Walsh, Noreen Gosch and others as a result of frustration stemming from the lack of resources and coordination between law enforcement and other government agencies.