Children would be better protected from sexual abuse under recommendations that a broad-based group of partners sent to Gov. Rick Snyder Wednesday under Michigan's Erin's Law.
The report is from the Task Force on Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children, which was formed through Erin's Law legislation named after child abuse survivor Erin Merryn that Snyder signed in 2013. The task force was organized under the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Recommendations in the report include ways that MDHHS, schools, law enforcement, courts, medical professionals and other public and private agencies can prevent child sexual abuse.
Snyder has asked MDHHS Director Nick Lyon to thoroughly review the report to determine how the state should proceed.
"Governor Snyder recognizes the importance of doing everything we can to prevent vulnerable children from being sexually abused," said Nick Lyon, director of MDHHS. "This type of abuse can have a life-lasting impact on our children. I look forward to working with the governor to review these recommendations and take action."
In addition to representatives from MDHHS, the task force included members from Attorney General Bill Schuette's office, local law enforcement, prosecutors' offices, education, courts, children's advocacy groups and other public and private organizations.
The task force also gathered information about child sexual abuse statewide and developed a common protocol to be used by state partners in local communities to help identify, prevent and investigate child sexual abuse.
The report can be found at www.michigan.gov/erinslaw.
Published: Fri, Jun 19, 2015
