LANSING - On Wednesday, September 24th Attorney General Bill Schuette’s office rolled out the OK2SAY program. This initiative came as a result of the Michigan Student Safety Act (183 PA 2013)  which was passed by the Michigan Senate last December.

OK2SAY aims to stop harmful behavior in students before it ever occurs by providing a confidential hotline in which students can report potentially harmful or illegal activities. The reports can be filed  through text, call, email, the website or by using the new smartphone application.

By making the reports confidential the Attorney General's office hope more students will break the culture of silence and come forward with reports.

Regional School Health Coordinator Wendy Sellers, who was just named national Health Coordinator of the year by the American School Health Association, believes part of the solution to breaking the culture of silence is changing the way we speak about those who report. She also agrees that making the tips confidential could work.

"Confidential reporting can be helpful in allowing people to step forward and speak up and report unsafe or unhealthy situations that could impact schools in a way that they might not be able to otherwise," said Seller.

The tips submitted will be initially answered at the Michigan State Police headquarters in Lansing by a group of specially trained operators. The operators will then forward the tip to the appropriate agency such as the Department of Human Services or community mental health service programs.

The majority of tips will be forwarded to schools or local law enforcement.

From there the agency involved will take care of the issue.
Meridian Township Police Lieutenant Greg Frenger says, "We go out and do an investigation and try to mitigate any violence in the schools or other crimes that might be planned or the tip addresses.”

The OK2SAY program was inspired by the success of similar programs in Colorado and Missouri. The Attorney Generals office will provide an annual public report which will include the outcome of tips submitted.