Over 100 Michigan law enforcement officers and school officials are better prepared to address bullying in schools thanks to training held yesterday in Lansing.  Nationally, nearly one in six students is a victim of bullying.

The training, titled Law Enforcement's Approach to Bullying Awareness, introduced a new bullying awareness and prevention program that helps law enforcement officers address bullying situations more effectively.  Attendees received a tool-kit with support materials that will assist them in sharing the lessons with students this fall.

The program consists of in-classroom training and discussions for kindergarten through 12th grade students.  Topics include what bullying is and is not, how bullying makes a person feel, and what the students can do if they are bullied or witness someone else being bullied.  For older students, the program also addresses cyber bullying.

Yesterday's event, which was organized by the Michigan State Police (MSP), was sponsored by Michigan's Law Enforcement Bullying Task Force and the Michigan Safe Schools Initiative.  Attendees participated free of charge thanks to funding made available under the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act (Public Law 107-110).

Michigan's Law Enforcement Bullying Task Force includes representatives from the MSP, Bully Police USA, Office of Drug Control Policy, Michigan State University, East Lansing Police Department, Grand Blanc Township Police Department and Lansing Police Department.

The Michigan's Safe Schools Initiative includes representatives from the Ann Arbor Police Department, Education Alliance, Grand Blanc Township Police Department, Ingham Intermediate School District, Lansing School District Department of Public Safety, Lansing Police Department, Michigan Attorney General's Office, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, Michigan Association of Non Public Schools, Michigan Association of Public School Academies, Michigan Association of School Administrators, Michigan Association of School Boards, Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, Michigan Center for the Prevention of Violence in Schools, Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Department of Human Services, Michigan Institute for Safe Schools and Communities, Michigan Regional Community Policing Institute, Michigan School Counselor Association, Michigan Sheriff's Association, MSP, Michigan State University, Neighborhood Association of Michigan, Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, Oakland Schools, Office of Drug Control Policy, Okemos Schools, Prosecuting Attorney Coordinating Council, School Employer Trust/School Employers Group, University of Detroit Mercy, Wayne State Prosecutor's Office, and Wayne State University.