Maine has become the first state in New England to create an alert system for missing children with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

The Maine Department of Public Safety and supporters of the new system said it addresses a gap in emergency alerts in the state.

The new program is part of the state’s silver alert system that was created more than a decade ago to inform the public about missing older residents who suffer from cognitive impairments.

Eighteen states around the country have alert systems for children with intellectual and development disabilities.