Summit Ridge Homeowner's Association

Mount Airy, MD

McGruff House Program

The Summit Ridge Homeowner's Association was the first Community Association in Maryland to sponsor a "McGruff House" program, in cooperation with the the National Crime Prevention Council (http://www.ncpc.org/programs/McGruff_House/nmhn.php).  Volunteers for this program have have been  fingerprinted by the Maryland State Police  and their fingerprints checked via the FBI's national database. 

McGruff houses all have the official "McGruff House" sign posted in the front of the home.  The sign will look like the one to the right.

 

A McGruff House is a temporary haven for children who find themselves in frightening or dangerous situations. Children are told that they can go to a specially marked McGruff House any time they sense danger as they go to and from school or are playing in the neighborhood.

McGruff Houses provide a safety network for children. McGruff Houses have significantly reduced children’s victimization and shown the value a community places on protecting its youngest citizens.

McGruff Houses do

  • Call the appropriate authorities if a child is lost or has a medical emergency
  • Reassure the child if he or she is frightened
  • Report crimes and suspicious activities

McGruff Houses don’t

  • Provide first aid (except in life-threatening situations)
  • Administer medications
  • Supervise the neighborhood
  • Enforce laws

Law enforcement is typically the first resource McGruff House participants will call to help a child.
 

For more information on the McGruff House program, please contact the National Crime Prevention Council at http://www.ncpc.org/programs/McGruff_House/nmhn.php. 

 

"McGruff the Crime Dog"®, “Take A Bite Out Of Crime"® and "McGruff House"® are registered trademarks of the National Crime Prevention Council, www.ncpc.org.