Erin’s Law (Child Abuse Prevention) Case Study
Organization: The Mary Black Foundation
URL: http://www.maryblackfoundation.org
Program Name: Implementation of Erin’s Law)
Funding: No funding, but mandated by South Carolina Legislature
Problem Being Solved: Implementing Erin’s Law as set forth in the laws by the South Carolina Legislature and within the Comprehensive Health Act of South Carolina (SC Board of Education)
Curricula used: Love Notes EBP
Curricula benefits: “It is an evidence-based model that ‘moves the needle’.” Love Notes EBP is one curriculum that meets the needs of multiple standards and indicators (Erin’s Law and Domestic Violence) within the SC Comprehensive Health Act.
Target Audience: 9th Grade Students
Audience Demographics: 74% White; 20% Black or African American; 6% Hispanic or Latino. 14% poverty rate.
Location of Instruction: High School Health Classes
Length of Instruction: A total of at least 12.5 hours (750 minutes) during a student’s high school of reproductive health education and pregnancy prevention education. Also, age-appropriate information on sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention is part of this requirement.
Instructors: Certain teachers as stated by The Comprehensive Health Education Act are trained specifically to teach Love Notes EBP. Each school is asked to train teachers in the curriculum to help with sustainability and continuity of the programming.
Student Workbooks: Students are given use the workbook as part of the instruction.
Incentives to students: None. Required for all 9th graders.
Unique Implementation: Spartanburg County is able to meet all of the requirements of Erin’s Law and Domestic Violence Act within the South Carolina Comprehensive Health Act. The curriculum helps students navigate issues within these two areas. Teachers at the schools facilitate the curriculum with the students.
Challenges: Unfunded mandate
Tips: Learn more about using Love Notes to meet the Erin’s Law requirements from this webinar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwV7SEGyWr0