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Detect and Connect

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Detect and Connect

Detect and Connect

Welcome to the Michigan State Police Office of School Safety's video series, Detect and Connect. This five part series is for school staff to help recognize and respond to student concerns. No one sees the whole picture alone. We each hold pieces of the puzzle by sharing observations. We form a clearer picture of potential concerns. Ensuring students get the support they need and creating a safer environment for all. These videos will help you understand your role in violence prevention and equip you with tools.



Detect & Connect Facilitator's Guide. This guide is intended for use with the Detect & Connect Video Training Series

Detect & Connect Facilitator's Guide

The Detect & Connect Facilitator’s Guide is designed to complement the video training series and provide practical tools for leading meaningful discussions on key school safety concepts. This resource helps facilitators adapt examples to their unique school community, professional roles, and local context.

By using this guide, you can enhance the video learning experience, making it more engaging, relevant, and directly connected to the important work participants carry out every day. Inside, you’ll find a clear framework for managing sessions, achieving learning objectives, and encouraging active participation.

Download Detect & Connect Facilitator's Guide
Introduction to Your Role in School Safety Video

Introduction to Your Role in School Safety

In this first video, Your Role in School Safety, you’ll learn:

  • Why early detection is critical in preventing larger problems
  • How every school staff member—from bus drivers to cafeteria workers—plays a vital role in safety
  • Ways to recognize changes in student behavior and when to share concerns
  • The importance of positive relationships and building a culture of safety
  • How behavioral threat assessments work and why they focus on prevention, not punishment

Under Michigan Public Act 272 of 2024, all schools must establish a behavioral threat assessment and management team by October 2026. Knowing your role in this process—and trusting it—can make the difference in connecting students with the right resources and saving lives.

By paying attention, speaking up, and following your school’s reporting policies, you can help keep your community safe.

Recognizing Signs of Distress Video

Recognizing Signs of Distress

In this episode, Recognizing Signs of Distress, we explore how educators, staff, and caring adults can identify changes in student behavior that may signal hidden struggles. You don’t need to be a mental health professional—simply being observant, compassionate, and willing to act can make a life-changing difference.

Learn how to:

  • Spot physical, emotional, social, and behavioral signs of distress
  • Understand the importance of trusted adults in students’ lives
  • Respond with care and report concerns without judgment
  • Support student well-being by creating a safe, connected environment

Your role matters. By noticing, speaking up, and showing you care, you can help ensure students get the support they need.

Connecting Students to Support Video

Connecting Students to Support

In this episode, Connecting Students to Support, we build on the previous lesson about recognizing signs of distress and focus on how to respond effectively. Noticing a concern is just the first step—taking action ensures students receive the help they need.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Approach students with care and listen without judgment
  • Report concerns promptly and confidentially to the right staff
  • Understand your role in threat assessment and school safety processes
  • Use OK2SAY, Michigan’s confidential reporting system, when appropriate
  • Follow up to reinforce trust and a culture of student well-being

Every caring adult plays a critical role. Your awareness, compassion, and action can make a lasting difference in helping students feel safe, supported, and valued.

Responding in a Crisis Video

Responding in a Crisis

In this episode, Responding in a Crisis, we focus on how caring adults can remain calm and supportive during stressful moments with students. Staying composed allows you to think clearly, make safe decisions, and build trust—even in high-pressure situations.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Recognize your own stress triggers and manage emotions with quick reset tools
  • Use calm communication, body language, and empathy to de-escalate tension
  • Apply trauma-informed strategies that prioritize safety and support
  • Respect privacy, know when to seek help, and follow proper reporting steps
  • Debrief and care for yourself after a crisis situation

Your response can either raise or reduce tension. By staying calm, showing empathy, and knowing when to ask for support, you help students feel safe while modeling healthy ways to manage strong emotions.

Using These Strategies in Practice Video

Using These Strategies in Practice

This episode brings the series together by showing how the strategies of recognizing distress, responding with care, and connecting students to support play out in real-life situations. Through Jason’s story, you’ll see how bus drivers, friends, coaches, and school staff each noticed small changes, shared their concerns, and ultimately helped connect him to the support he needed.

You’ll learn how:

  • Early recognition and communication can prevent crises
  • Threat assessment teams bring together information for a full picture
  • Support plans and community collaboration help students thrive
  • Every role in a school—from bus drivers to administrators—makes a difference

The series has emphasized your vital role in student well-being: noticing signs of distress, taking action, and working as a team to build safe, supportive school communities.

By paying attention and acting, you can help students feel seen, heard, and cared for—making schools safer for everyone.