Strengthening Student Well-Being Through SEL: Michigan Model + CASEL

2025-10-27 12:06:00 News & Articles - Elementary K - 6 - Grades 7 - 8 - Grades 9 - 12

Michigan Model for Health - Model for Healthy Kids - MMH + Social Emotional Learning

In classrooms today, education goes beyond academics. Students are learning essential life skills that support their emotional well-being, relationships, and decision-making—skills that shape lifelong success.

The Michigan Model for Health™ (MMH) bridges this connection by combining evidence-based health education with the five core competencies of social and emotional learning (SEL) as defined by CASEL: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making.

MMH plus SEL - social emotional learning competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making

Recognized by CASEL for Proven Impact

The Michigan Model for Health is a CASEL-certified, evidence-based curriculum—featured in the CASEL Guide to Effective Social and Emotional Learning Programs and highlights its proven effectiveness by:

  • showing improved social behavior and reduced conduct issues.
  • evidence of lower substance misuse (drugs and alcohol) among participating students.
  • lessons span K through Grade 12 - integrating health and SEL standards. ​​​​​​

What Makes MMH Stand Out

MMH provides educators with a clear, skills-based framework to strengthen student well-being through:

  • Age-appropriate lessons grounded in research
  • Focus areas such as mental health, personal safety, and substance misuse prevention
  • Practical strategies that support the whole child
  • Strong alignment with both Health Education Standards and CASEL’s five SEL competencies

See the Alignment in Action

Download the MMH + CASEL Skills Competencies Guide to explore how each unit directly connects to CASEL’s SEL framework.

Download the Guide

The Model for Healthy Kids

The Michigan Model for HealthTM is a nationally recognized, research-based comprehensive and sequential Pre-K through 12th grade health education curriculum. The MMH curriculum aims to give school-aged children and youth the knowledge and skills needed to practice and maintain healthy behaviors and lifestyles. It provides age-appropriate lessons addressing the most serious health challenges facing school children and youth.

Contact Us

Email our MMH support team at support@michiganmodelforhealth.org.

mmh Social and Emotional Health Michigan Model for Health social and emotional learning CASEL social emotional learing SEL