When two fourth grade girls from Waukee spotted a suspicious van in their neighborhood a couple months ago, many parents found themselves giving their kids a refresher course on what to do around strangers.

This week, the Waukee Police Department is taking that conversation one step further by initiating the Waukee Safe House program.

The Waukee Safe House, formerly Waukee's McGruff House program, is a safe haven for kids when a known, trusted adult isn't around.

Jeff Mellencamp, a school resource officer with the Waukee Police Department and Waukee Schools, said the program is similar to the old Blue Star program where a participating household would display a blue star in their front window to let others know it was safe to go there in the event of an emergency.

With the Waukee Safe House, interested residents need only contact the Waukee Police Department and provide information for a criminal background check to be considered. If approved, residents can display a designated window cling to signal that their house is a safe house in the event that a child would need to find safety close by.

For more information on the Waukee Safe House program, contact the Waukee Police Department at (515) 987-1073.