2.  Beckie Francis has spent more than a
decade serving her Michigan
community with a variety of social and
charitable services. In 2012, Beckie
Francis became a public speaker and
advocate for child abuse awareness. In
this role, she helped to pass Erin’s Law in
the state of Michigan.

3.  Championed by and named for sexual
assault survivor Erin Merryn, Erin’s Law was
first passed by legislators in the state of
Illinois and has since gained momentum at
the national level. In addition to Illinois,
seven states have passed Erin’s Law,
including Michigan, Nevada, Arkansas, and
Mississippi. South Carolina and Rhode Island
are just two of 19 states in which the law is
pending approval.

4.  After Erin’s Law gains approval in a state,
public schools begin to implement a variety
of prevention-oriented abuse programs
that utilize age-appropriate techniques for
students between kindergarten and fifth
grade. Erin’s Law also calls for prevention
education for school personnel, parents,
and guardians, all of whom learn some of
the potential signs of child abuse. For more
information on the law, visit
www.erinslaw.org.