Office of School Safety Winter Newsletter

Michigan State Police sent this bulletin at 01/18/2024 02:50 PM EST

Winter Newsletter, January 2024

FBI Warns of Online Groups Targeting Minors

The FBI is alerting the public to the deliberate targeting of minor victims by violent online groups on widely accessible messaging platforms. These groups aim to coerce victims between the ages of 8 and 17 years old to produce content involving self-harm, explicit sexual acts, and/or suicide. Being specifically targeted are LGBTQ+ youth, racial minorities, and those struggling with mental health issues. Utilizing threats, blackmail, and manipulation, the groups exert control over victims by pressuring them. There are many active group names including 676, 764, CVLT, Court, Kaskar, Harm Nation, Leak Society, and H3ll, with subgroups continuously formed under different nicknames. For additional information, visit Campus Safety Magazine.

Michigan Department of Education Behavior Intervention Tools

Funding is now available to intermediate school districts and local education agencies for 2023-2024 only for the purchase and implementation of tools that provide a common way to identify and collect early behaviors that could require intervention to prevent abuse, self-harm, or violence in schools. Both traditional public school districts and public school academies may apply. The tools described in MCL Chapter 388 Section 388.1697j must be used to inform any behavioral threat assessment and threat assessment teams. Early behaviors that could require intervention include, but are not limited to:

Changes in attendance.
Changes in academic performance.
Changes in emotional responses.
Withdrawal.
Discipline concerns that could result in the need for academic support, parent or legal guardian conferences, discipline referrals, etc.

The application period will remain open until January 21, 2024, and can be accessed through the NexSys Dashboard. Questions may be directed to Mary Teachout at TeachoutM@michigan.gov.

CDC Offers Preparedness Resource

While the primary function of schools is to educate students, they also fulfill other needs of students and families by offering meals, childcare, and physical and mental health services. Carefully planning for emergencies helps schools to mitigate the impact of both short- and long-term crises on operations. A strategic approach not only facilitates the possibility of keeping schools open but also enables a quicker reopening and the continued provision of services in the aftermath of an emergency. Schools and outside agencies must collaborate closely to ensure the safe sustained operation of schools. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Readiness Response, provides this online resource to guide preparedness efforts.

Michigan School Resource Officer Grant Program Highlights

In July 2022, the Michigan legislature appropriated $25 million to fund SRO positions in Michigan K-12 public schools, to be administered by the MSP, GCSD, OSS. In January 2023, the Governor’s office announced the grant awards that funded nearly 200 new SRO positions in schools across the state.

SROs work to improve school safety and promote a positive school climate. Often, this happens one student at a time. One grantee recently shared the following meaningful success story:

Has the SRO impacted safety and climate in your schools?

Officer Taylor is the SRO for the Hannahville Indian School which includes the Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy campus. He has had a tremendous impact providing input in school safety committee meetings and providing training directly to staff. Examples of presentations conducted by Officer Taylor include D.A.R.E. and Student Tools for Emergency Planning, and he has assisted with renumbering classroom locations using the latest National Association of School Resource Officers, State of Michigan, and local standards. He participates in the Behavioral Threat Assessment and Student At-Risk teams focused on addressing students’ needs. Officer Taylor meets monthly with community elders to discuss topics of school safety and address related concerns. Officer Taylor was recognized by a local victim services agency, receiving the “Making a Difference Award,” and highlighted on the local news channel as a role model in the school and a “Hometown Hero.”

The MSP OSS is proud to report on the impactful work of SROs across the state.

OK2SAY

OK2SAY – IT IS IMPORTANT TO USE THE STUDENT SAFETY PROGRAM RESPECTFULLY AND RESPONSIBLY

In order to prioritize the safety of students in schools, Michigan has OK2SAY, a confidential tipline that allows anyone to report potential harm or criminal activities directed toward students, school employees, or schools. The main goal of this program is to create a safe environment where students can share their concerns without fear of retaliation.

While the majority of tips received are made in good faith, there have been a few instances in which the tipline was misused by individuals reporting false information as a prank or to get someone else in trouble. These actions not only undermine the integrity of OK2SAY but also waste valuable time and resources of schools and law enforcement, possibly delaying responses to genuine emergencies. Such acts can also be frustrating and intimidating for students who are wrongfully implicated in these false tips.

According to the Michigan School Safety Act 183 of 2013, OK2SAY ensures that the tipster's identity will be kept confidential, but not anonymous. The identity of the tipster can only be disclosed with the tipster’s consent, the permission of their parents in the case of a minor, or when authorized by a court order. However, if an individual files a false report, the prosecuting attorney for a local unit of government may petition to the court to disclose the report, including identifying information.

Pranks to OK2SAY pose a threat to its effectiveness. It is important for students to understand the consequences and potential harm that these pranks can cause. By using the tipline responsibly and stressing the importance of reporting genuine concerns, students can contribute to the well-being of their peers and schools.

School Resource Officer Training

The Michigan State Police (MSP) Office of School Safety (OSS) has developed a series of six online professional development courses on school safety and mental health. These free courses will provide school resource officers (SRO) and school safety personnel with tools needed to promote a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. The goal is to provide position specific standards, policies, and training about behavioral cues and potential indicators of a mental health crisis. The project was completed in partnership with Michigan State University and supported by Grant No. 2019-YS-BX-0098 awarded to the MSP, Grants and Community Services Division (GCSD), by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice.

Use the link below to register for free, self-paced, SRO Training.

Resources from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently released two new resources related to K-12 school safety and security. Please see the following information on these new products and feel free to share as you see fit with your members, networks, and other interested individuals in the school safety community.

Social Media Threat Guidance for School Staff and Authorities Infographic: This product highlights social media threats affecting school districts in the United States, provides mitigation and response measures for social media threats directed at school districts, and connects school safety stakeholders to a suite of tools and resources provided by CISA and its partners to promote a culture of readiness and preparedness.
Bombing Prevention Assistance for K-12 Schools: This product provides K-12 schools and school districts with products, tools, and Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) strategies to protect, prevent, mitigate, and respond to bombing threats.

To find additional CISA school safety resources and tools, please visit cisa.gov/topics/physical-security/school-safety.