The Michigan Model for HealthTM Program is nationally recognized as an evidenced-based health curriculum and has been a part of many research projects over the past 20 years.

Students who received the Michigan Model for HealthTM have:

  • Better interpersonal communication skills
  • Stronger social/emotional skills
  • Less reported aggression
  • Improved safety skills
  • Stronger drug refusal skills
  • Less reported alcohol and tobacco use
  • Better self-management skills
  • Improved pro-safety and physical activity skills
  • Enhanced knowledge and skills in physical activity and nutrition

The Michigan Model for Health ​​​​​TM is written in alignment with the most current Health Education Standards from the Michigan Department of Education and other state's agencies. MMH consists of comprehensive health lessons that provide students with skill and evidenced-based instruction. These lessons are periodically updated, with revisions occurring as needed to maintain alignment with any newly published Michigan Health Education Standards.

MMH Program Recognitions


The Michigan Model for HealthTM is approved as an effective Social and Emotional Learning Program by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, Emotional Learning (CASEL). CASEL is a trusted source for knowledge about high-quality, evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL). The Michigan Model for HealthTM is included in the CASEL Guide: Effective Social and Emotional Learning Programs which provides a systematic framework for evaluating the quality of classroom-based SEL programs. It uses this framework to rate and identify well-designed, evidence-based SEL programs with potential for broad dissemination to schools across the United States.

The Michigan Model for HealthTM elementary curriculum is a CASEL SELect Program approved for Grades K-6. The evaluation supported evidence of program effectiveness with the outcome of increased positive social behavior, reduced conduct problems, and substance abuse prevention.

The Michigan Model for HealthTM middle school curriculum is a CASEL Promising Program approved for Grades 7-8. The evaluation supported program effectiveness and found that compared to students in the comparison group students who participated in the program reported lower frequencies of using drugs and alcohol at post-test.


National_Health_Education_Standards_Guide-cover-2.pngThe Michigan Model for HealthTM Pre-K through 12th grade curriculum meets the National Consensus for School Health Education National Health Education Standards (NHES) by aligning the health education knowledge and skills needed at each grade level.  The Michigan Model for HealthTM program includes a complete NHES crosswalk of lessons and objectives for all health topics and across all grades. The NHES provides a framework for teachers, administrators, and policy makers in designing or selecting curricula, allocating instructional resources, and assessing student achievement and progress. The NHES are written expectations for what students should know and be able to do by certain grade levels to promote personal, family, and community health.


Michigan Department of Education logoThe Michigan Model for HealthTM Pre-K through 12th grade curriculum meets the Michigan Health Education Standards. The Health Education Standards reflect legal requirements, best practices, and current research in the teaching and learning of health education.  These standards were developed with the input of work groups made up of elementary and high school health teachers, health content experts, faculty from teacher preparation programs, and public comment feedback and online reviews by grade level teachers. They are aligned with the 2007 National Health Education Standards. Students whose work is guided by these standards will be prepared for responsible and healthful living, at school, at home, and in the workplace. For questions regarding the Michigan Health Education Standards, contact Scott Martin, School District Consultant, at MartinS27@michigan.gov.


school health and american school health association logoThe Journal of School Health (JOSH), provided by the American School Health Association (ASHA), contains articles on school health practice, theory, and research related to the health and well-being of school-aged youth.  View the following Michigan Model for HealthTM JOSH research articles:
 


US Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention LogoThe Michigan Model for HealthTM addresses all major health risk behaviors as identified by CDC. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies risk behavior areas that have the greatest effect on the short-term and long-term health of young people.  They include: Injuries and Violence; Tobacco Use; Alcohol and Other Drug Use; Sexual Behaviors that contribute to Unintended Pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections; Unhealthy Food Choices; and Physical Inactivity.  For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov.


rhi-hub logoThe Michigan Model for HealthTM is based on the Health Belief Model which is one of the most widely adapted models for understanding health behavior change. View the Rural Health Information Hub’s Evidence-based Rural Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Toolkit.


crime solutions logoThe National Institute of Justice recognizes the Michigan Model for HealthTM as a Reliable and Evidence-based Program.  CrimeSolutions.gov is an online clearinghouse that performs rigorous evaluations and meta-analyses to assess the strength of the evidence about whether programs achieve criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services outcomes in order to inform practitioners and policy makers about what works, what doesn't, and what's promising. View the Michigan Model for Health™ CrimeSolutions.gov program listing.


Substance Abuse and mental health Services Administration logoThe U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recognizes the Michigan Model for HealthTM as an Evidence-based Program. A two-year, two-State evaluation study proves the Michigan Model for Health™ works. The study design and outcomes met the rigorous standards used by the U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) which recognizes the Michigan Model for Health as an Evidence-Based Program and Practice. For more information, visit https://www.samhsa.gov.