MiSHCA has been on a branding and marketing journey over the past several months. Thread Marketing has been helping MiSHCA define our brand and provided an update to our entire organization at our February meeting. Please stay tuned as we hope to unveil our new logo and branding identity soon!

Other information that was shared with MiSHCA during the February meeting was an update on the digitization of the Michigan Model for Health™ curriculum including a Digital Curriculum Training of Trainers and Digital Curriculum Implementation Guide. The beta release is expected to begin this spring with a full transition occurring in the fall of 2020.

In this edition of the newsletter you will find information about:

• Highlighting Michigan Model for Health™ Personal Health & Wellness handwashing lessons & revisions to personal safety lessons

• Collaborative Sexual Violence Prevention grant with MOASH

• New MiSHCA Legislative brochure

MiSHCA partners with organizations across the state to collectively support schools in ensuring students are healthy, safe, supported, challenged and engaged. MiSHCA and their partners know healthy students are better learners. The Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health (MOASH) mobilizes youth voices, engages community partners, and informs decision makers to advance sexual health, identities, and rights. MiSHCA is pleased to partner with MOASH on their MY Consent Culture project.

MY Consent Culture is a new MOASH program funded by the CDC Rape Prevention Education (RPE) funding through a grant with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) that works to shift the culture and climate around consent in Michigan K-12 schools. This program aims to make an impact across state, regional, district, building, and classroom levels through

1. running a Michigan Youth Girls Advisory Board (MY GAB) and Social Media Team;

2. coordinating a statewide sexual violence prevention team;

3. providing training, technical assistance, and support to health coordinators and sex educators around issues of consent and sexual violence; and

4. engaging in advocacy efforts at all levels.

A crucial part of the program involves providing personalized technical assistance, professional development, and a training of facilitators to regional school health coordinators and sex educators across the state. MOASH can also provide assistance to Sex Education Advisory Boards, and can connect school districts with local anti-violence organizations and resources.

MY GAB was created through the MY Consent Culture project and focuses on empowering cisgender girls, transgender youth, and non-binary youth to become leaders in the fight to shift the culture and climate of consent in Michigan schools. MY GAB exists to inform the services, programs, and materials created for youth by MOASH and other community partners. In addition, MY GAB members are involved in various youth advocacy efforts throughout the year and use their voices to improve services for youth across the state, especially as it relates to sexual violence and consent. Members are all ages 13-19, as the focus is on K-12 schools. The council meets every other month in Lansing. Applications will open again in November 2020.

A statewide sexual violence prevention team of folks working in sexual violence prevention meets quarterly in the Lansing area and includes people from schools, community-based organizations, policymakers, parents, and youth to engage in the MY Consent Culture work. Through our three workgroups - policy, resources, and youth voice - participants network, develop statewide materials, plan events, and advocate for better policy both local and statewide. If you’re interested in participating, e-mail jamie.erdheim@moash.org!