JANUARY 2008
Neighborhood Watch to Launch “McGruff House” program

The Clermont Neighborhood Watch’s main focus is to prevent crime and protect children. With so many small children living in Clermont the NHW has decided to implement the “McGruff House” child safe house program. The McGruff House program is a partnership between local law enforcement, schools and community groups which provides assistance to children as they travel to and from school or play in the neighborhood. This program which is overseen by the National Crime Prevention Council and the US Department of Justice uses neighborhood residents and businesses who have been carefully screened and who agree to watch out for children in trouble and assist by notifying the proper authorities such as the police, EMS or parents. Each approved “McGruff House” is marked with a bright yellow placard signifying to children in trouble that they can go to a place of safety and find an adult who will help them.

The goal is to place a McGruff House or two in every block in the city. A thorough background check will be done on each volunteer and all residents over 18 years of age who live in the proposed McGruff House. Training will be provided to all volunteers who merely make themselves available in their own homes or places of business in case a child needs their assistance.

We invite the cities of Elgin and Wadena to join us in this effort along with the rural areas of the valley. Any group willing to represent their community should contact the Clermont Police Department or any member of the Clermont Neighborhood Watch as soon as possible. The Sheriff has already expressed a willingness to work with these areas in this program.

Anyone living in Clermont who desires to participate in this program should also contact the police department or a NHW member.

Contacts should be made as soon as possible. There is a lot of work to be done and we plan on implementing the entire program by mid April with a kickoff to be held at the annual April community pot luck.

Remember: The safety of your community and the children in it is the responsibility of every resident in that community.