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McGruff House
 A McGruff House is a temporary haven for children who
need help or find themselves in emergency or frightening
situations such as being bullied, followed, or hurt while
walking in a neighborhood.
A McGruff House provides a sense of security and a source of
emergency aid. It is not an escort service or a guarantee of
safety, but rather a place for appropriate short-term help by an
adult for a child. An effective McGruff House Program
demonstrates that the community accepts a shared responsibility
to watch out and help out on behalf of all its children.
Volunteers
McGruff Volunteers provide emergency assistance for children
as they go to and from school and are at play in the area.
McGruff House participants do:
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Telephone appropriate authorities for help;
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Reassure and aid children who are frightened or lost;
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Assist children who have medical emergencies by getting
appropriate attention;
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Assist those who are in immediate fear of becoming
victims of personal crime or thefts, child abuse, gangs, or
bullies; and
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Report crimes and suspicious activities to law enforcement
officials and provide descriptions of vehicles and suspects
where possible.
McGruff House participants do not:
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Personally provide first aid except in extreme emergency
situations and then only if qualified;
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Act as an escort service;
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Assume the role of neighborhood supervisor;
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Enforce laws;
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Provide toilet facilities;
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Provide a place to "warm up" or "cool
down";
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Provide food or beverages; or
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Guarantee safety.
Why McGruff House Works
First, McGruff
McGruff, the Crime Dog, is recognized by 99% of
America's children because they've seen him on television or
because he has visited their school. One in five U.S. families
moves yearly; using a symbol recognized nationwide make sense.
Second, the McGruff House Program has
built-in safeguards against abuses
While it is impossible to guarantee the safety of children
in any program, reasonable precautions have been taken in
designing the McGruff House Program. Adults who volunteer their
homes agree to a law enforcement records check. The distribution
of McGruff House Signs is strictly controlled.
Third, McGruff House is a locally operated
program
It is a service provided by the community for the well-being
of children. It is a partnership of local law enforcement, a
school or school system, and a community organization.
Fourth, McGruff House is a nationwide
program that represents a partnership among a national
organization, state governments, and local communities
This partnership enables communities to benefit from
the visibility of the national effort and to join with other
communities in implementing a program with consistent standards,
guidelines, and safeguards.
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The Village of Wheeling,
Illinois
255 West Dundee Road
Wheeling, IL 60090
(847) 459-2600
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