The Michigan School Safety Initiative offers free training resources and technical assistance for all schools in the State of Michigan.
Resources
Although originally created as back-to-school resources, these guides highlight strategies that are essential for building safe and supportive environments all year round.
Back-to-School Resources for Staff
Taking a proactive approach to school safety offers several benefits, including fostering a sense of trust and well-being among students and staff, preventing potential harm before it occurs, and promoting a positive school culture where everyone feels supported. Our Back-to-School Resources for Staff offer a range of strategies and tools to help school staff prepare for the upcoming school year.
Back-to-School Resources for Caregivers
When caregivers prioritize their children’s mental and physical well-being at home, it helps the students feel more secure, focused, and prepared for learning. This support can reduce stress, improve emotional resilience, and encourage positive behavior, all of which contribute to a safer and more supportive school environment. Here are some strategies and resources to help students thrive throughout the school year.
We recommend sharing these resources with your school community.
From our Partners at the National Center for School Safety:
Cultivating a Supportive School Climate: A "how to" Guide
This guide provides a step-by-step approach to assessing school climate needs, developing an approach to improve school climate, and identifying relevant resources to reach school climate improvement goals.
Training Events
Recordings of these webinars are available for on-demand viewing.
Introducing the Michigan School Safety Initiative - Free Support for School Safety
The Michigan School Safety Initiative (MSSI) works with Michigan schools to improve school safety and prevent violence. In this webinar, we will introduce our comprehensive, evidence-based approach to school safety and the free services we offer, including one-on-one support. Our resources are designed to assist school communities in choosing school safety measures that best fit their needs and unique environments. We offer free, one-on-one support to help schools start and maintain improved safety practices.
Current Safety Needs for Michigan Schools: A Review of Your Top Concerns
In this webinar, we will review findings from MSSI’s recent state-wide needs assessment. This input was submitted by Michigan superintendents, administrators, educators, building staff, law enforcement, and other community members. We will highlight the top reported concerns, such as student mental health, social media monitoring, staff wellness, and more. Please join this webinar to learn more about what Michigan reported as the top priorities for school safety and how it will directly inform the future development of training, resources, and technical assistance provided by MSSI.
One-on-One School Safety Support is always available by request
Whether you have a specific school safety question, need help finding quality resources, or seek guidance as you develop a comprehensive school safety plan, we are here to help.
Featured Resources
Visit these resources from our partners at the National Center for School Safety.
These and many more tools are available at nc2s.org.
What We Do
Provide free, one-on-one technical assistance on school safety initiatives to Michigan schools
Distribute evidence-based tools and resources to schools and school safety professionals
Evaluate school safety initiatives implemented in Michigan
Conduct Michigan school safety needs assessments
Develop and present school safety information to audiences across Michigan
Collaborate with our advisory board and school safety partners
Have questions?
schoolsafety@umich.edu
The Michigan School Safety Initiative is housed at the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention and funded by the State of Michigan through the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (PA 166 of 2022 & HB 5783)
To learn more about the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention: