FAQ
These are some of our most common questions.
If you don’t see your question here, let us know on our Contact Us page.
Resources
Can I use or share your resources at my organization?
Yes, all of the resources on our website are free and available to everyone. We welcome you to share them with others and utilize them within your communities.
I am a parent and have school-aged children. What resources would be of value to me?
We have many resources available that you might find useful, featuring topics such as distance learning, mental health, family engagement in school, and more! Visit our Resources and Trainings pages to see what’s available. If you’re experiencing a crisis, our Crisis Navigation Resources page offers resources for caregivers and youth (among other audiences) to help cope, communicate, and more.
I'm interested in viewing resources and trainings pertaining to specific topics. How might I do this?
You can view all of our resources and trainings by topic on this page.
My school/community just experienced a traumatic event. What resources do you have that offer support or next steps?
We are deeply sorry for what you are experiencing. We would like to offer our Returning to School After a Crisis Guide, which provides information about responses to trauma, warning signs that a student is in distress, and tips for talking and working with students as they return to campus. Additionally, we have a Crisis Navigation page that provides resources by topic and audience type.
I just stumbled upon your website. I am interested in school safety; do I have to be associated with the STOP Program to participate in your trainings or use your resources?
Thank you for being here! All of the trainings and resources on our website are free to use and are publicly available* to anyone who has an interest in school safety. Exceptions to this are the Quarterly Meetings and the BJA Kick-off meetings, which are freely available but only open to STOP Program grantees.
I am a new STOP Program grantee. Can you tell me more about available resources and what might be most helpful to my organization’s school safety efforts?
Thank you for visiting our site! If you have not already, make sure to connect with your School Safety Specialist. They will be able to guide you and suggest resources that will be specific to your program. In the coming months, we will also be launching a Getting Started guide, so be sure to join our newsletter to receive updates on this upcoming resource and more.
Trainings
How do I register for a training?
Open the Trainings page. Please be sure you are using either Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer will not work with our system.
Find the course you want and click “Enroll”.
This takes you to a form in the NCSS Canvas training portal. If you have registered for a training session with us previously, you already have an account and do not need to fill out the form again. Instead, click the “Sign in here” link to sign in.
After submitting the form or signing in, you will be enrolled.
How do I connect to the Zoom webinar?
After you register for the course, you will receive an email confirming your enrollment.
On the day of the webinar, open this email and click “access your course” to view the course information and webinar link.
You will also receive a reminder email on the day of the training with the webinar link and the link to complete the post-webinar survey.
Clicking the webinar link will open Zoom. If you are using a phone or tablet you will be prompted to download the free Zoom app. If you are using a computer you can view the webinar in your browser or through the Zoom application. Please be sure you are using either Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer will not work with our system.
For assistance with Zoom, refer to https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/115004954946-Joining-a-Webinar-Attendee-
I can’t access the post-webinar survey because it asks me to enter my user name and password and I don’t think I have one - what do I do?
In order to register for the training, you had to start an account in the NCSS Canvas catalog. Your email will be the email you used to register for the course. If you do not know your password you can click “Forgot Password?” and follow the instructions to reset it.
I am having trouble logging into my Canvas account.
Please be sure you are using either Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer will not work with our system.
If you think you forgot your username and password, click the “Forgot Password?” link on the sign-in page.
How do I access my certificate of completion?
You will receive an email notifying you that your attendance has been verified by NCSS staff and that you can then download your certificate of completion. Please note that attendance verification is a manual process that may take up to 5 business days. We appreciate your patience!
First, sign-in to your Canvas account and find the course under the “Completed” tab. Click “Download” next to “cert###” to view and save your certificate to your computer.
If your course is not under the “Completed” tab, you may not have filled out the course evaluation yet. In that case, your course will be under “Not Completed”.
You will have to click “Review Course”. Then fill out the survey listed on the Canvas page (requirement 2) before you can download your certificate.
I wasn’t able to log into the webinar and missed it. Is there a recording I can view? Can I still get “credit” and the certificate of completion?
The webinars are recorded; the recording will be available on our website soon after the live viewing. If you registered for the webinar, you will be on the email that goes out letting you know when it has been posted. After watching the webinar and completing the evaluation survey, you can download the certificate of completion.
While the NCSS Canvas Catalog system refers to it as “credit“, what we are offering is a certificate of completion for contact hours to document participation. Depending on your licensure, you could choose to submit your certificate as evidence of continuing education. These are not academic credits and don’t go towards any type of matriculation or official certification.
Connecting With Us
How can I submit a media request?
Please submit media requests via our Media Inquiries page, by completing our short online form. It is helpful to include the topic(s) you want to discuss, your preferred discussion format (phone call, video call, live interview, etc.), and a timeline for when you need a response.
How can I partner with NCSS?
We welcome hearing from collaborators with content expertise, resource contributions, questions, and more. Reach out via our Contact Form with your questions or ideas.
Is the NCSS available to come and present/teach/lead at my ______?
Most of our training efforts are conducted virtually through webinars and workshops that are open to the public. Reach out to schoolsafety@umich.edu to let us know about your specific request and see how we can help.
I work for an organization, and we have resources available that might benefit your audience. Can you include them on your website?
Thank you for your interest in sharing resources. You are free to share resources relevant to school safety with schoolsafety@umich.edu. One of our team members will review submissions as their schedule allows. We cannot guarantee that we will share or use your resource(s).
About School Safety
How can I get more involved in the school safety field, locally or professionally?
Exploring sites such as this one and SchoolSafety.gov can be a great place to start learning about school safety. To connect to local resources, try contacting your school district or emergency service providers about what initiatives are happening in your community. To learn about upcoming employment opportunities with NCSS, sign up for our newsletter!
How do I apply for a grant to get federal funding for my school or organization?
The NCSS does not offer grant funding directly. We work closely with the Department of Justice’s Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence program. Typically solicitation for this federal funding comes out each spring, which we will share on our website. For more information or additional opportunities, visit SchoolSafety.gov’s grant finder tool.