OK2SAY is a confidential way for students to report anything that threatens their safety or the safety of others.

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STUDENT SAFETY: Attorney General Reports Big Response to 2 New Initiatives

June 7, 2015
By: Dave Rogers

Michigan Attorney General William Schuette's office says a new initiative to protect children has received hundreds of tips and its Cyber Safety Initiative has been presented to more than one million students throughout the state.

Schuette is promoting two customized programs to protect children across the state:

*OK2SAY - Michigan's student safety program and the

*Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative. Both programs are free and feature content tailored specifically for each grade level.

The top three tip categories in OK2SAY are:

1) bullying/cyberbullying;

2) suicide threats; and

3) drugs/alcohol.

OK2SAY, is a confidential way for students to report anything that threatens their safety or the safety of others.

"OK2SAY operates as an early warning system in our schools to stop tragedies before they can occur," says Schuette. "Anyone who knows about a student safety threat (students, teachers, parents, etc.) can submit a tip to OK2SAY operators by phone, text message, mobile app, email, or on the OK2SAY website: www.mi.gov/ok2say."

Tips may be submitted on a wide range of issues including: weapons possession, bullying/cyberbullying, abuse, drugs, alcohol, suicide talk, school attacks, threats of violence, assaults, or anything that may threaten student safety.

The OK2SAY technicians address the immediate need and forward the information to the appropriate responding agency. Most tips go to schools and local law enforcement agencies. However, in some instances, the tip may go to the local Community Mental Health office or to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Michigan CSI is a national, award-winning program that teaches children in grades K-5 the importance of being safe, making smart decisions, and protecting themselves and others on-line and off.

Students in grades 6-8 receive CSI and OK2SAY programming while the central focus of the presentation to students in grades 9-12 is on OK2SAY and how students can make a positive difference in their schools.

The goal for both programs and presentations is to empower students, especially bystanders, to do the right thing and submit a tip to OK2SAY if they see harmful behavior.

To help promote CSI or OK2SAY, schools may register for any of these FREE presentations at www.mi.gov/csi or www.mi.gov/ok2say. More information about each program is also available on the respective websites.

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