The Failure That Cost a Life

Kyra's death wasn't an anomaly - it was a symptom of a broken family court system that routinely prioritizes parental access over child safety. The statistics are staggering and devastating:

• 58,000 children are court-ordered into unsupervised visitation with abusive parents every single year
• 70% of the time, family courts side with abusers over protective parents in custody decisions
• 75% of child deaths in the United States are perpetrated by a parent
• Over 500,000 children are court-ordered into homes where they face sexual, physical, or emotional abuse

Jacqueline had raised concerns. The warning signs were there. But like thousands of protective parents before her, she watched helplessly as the court prioritized a father's "parental rights" over her daughter's fundamental right to be safe.

From Grief to Action: The Birth of Kyra's Champions

Most people could never imagine how they would survive such a loss. Jacqueline Franchetti did more than survive - she transformed her grief into a powerful force for change.

She founded Kyra's Champions, a 501(c)4 charity with a single, focused mission: ensure that no other child suffers Kyra's fate, and no other family endures such preventable tragedy.

"We honor Kyra's memory," Jacqueline says, "by working to ensure no other child should have the same fate as Kyra and no other family should be impacted by a similar tragedy."

What is Kyra's Law?

Kyra's Law represents comprehensive legislative reform designed to fundamentally change how family courts handle cases involving abuse. The law addresses the critical failures that cost Kyra her life:

Key Provisions:

• Supervised Visitation Requirements: Courts must order supervised visits - not unsupervised access - when there is evidence of abuse or family violence
• Improved Risk Assessment: Mandatory evaluation of danger to children before granting unsupervised visitation
• Forensic Evaluator Training: Standardized training for professionals who assess family situations to recognize abuse patterns
• Child Safety Priority: Explicitly prioritizing child safety above parental access rights when abuse is present
• Reformed Custody Evaluation: Addressing the systemic bias that currently sides with abusers 70% of the time

The law is currently pending in New York, with Jacqueline advocating for both state and federal implementation to protect children nationwide.

The Courage to Keep Fighting

Jacqueline's advocacy work extends far beyond drafting legislation. She has become a powerful voice for protective parents and at-risk children across the country:

• Organizing the annual Kyra's Rally for Change to raise awareness and push for legislative action
• Supporting victim education programs and student advocacy initiatives
• Testifying before lawmakers about the urgent need for family court reform
• Providing support and resources to other protective parents navigating dangerous custody situations
• Building coalitions with child safety advocates nationwide

Every time Jacqueline tells Kyra's story, she relives the worst day of her life. Every testimony, every rally, every meeting with legislators means confronting her daughter's murder again. Yet she persists, because 58,000 children face the same danger Kyra faced - this year, and every year until the system changes.

The Urgent Need for Change

Kyra's Law isn't just about honoring one little girl's memory - it's about preventing ongoing tragedy. Right now, as you read this:

• Protective parents are being dismissed as "alienating" when they try to keep their children safe from abusers
• Family courts are ordering children into unsupervised contact with parents who have documented histories of violence
• Forensic evaluators without proper training in domestic violence dynamics are making life-or-death recommendations
• Children are being forced into dangerous situations because the system prioritizes "parental rights" over their safety

Jacqueline's message is clear and urgent: "Child safety should be put above all else in family court systems."

A Mother's Heroism

Jacqueline Franchetti couldn't save Kyra. The system prevented her from protecting her own daughter, despite her best efforts and desperate warnings. That failure will haunt her forever.

But what she's doing now - transforming that unbearable pain into systemic change - is the definition of heroism. She's fighting so that other mothers won't have to bury their children because a family court judge prioritized a father's access over a child's safety.

Every child who is protected by supervised visitation instead of being sent alone with an abuser is alive because of mothers like Jacqueline who refused to let their children's deaths be meaningless.

Every protective parent who is believed instead of dismissed is heard because Jacqueline gave voice to her daughter's story.

Every family court judge who thinks twice before ordering unsupervised visitation with an abusive parent is pausing because of Kyra's Law.