Erin's Law was the first law passed in the United States requiring sexual abuse prevention education to be taught to students in school every year, and it was subsequently passed in 38 U.S. states before being signed into federal law. At first, it happened when she was babysitting her younger cousins and their older brother would arrive home before their mother. After an evening of playing with Ashley's dollhouse and watching The Little Mermaid, the girls went to bed in Ashley's room. Erin Elizabeth was sexually abused from 11-13 by her older cousin. There was one good thing about my sister coming forward, she said. JANESVILLE, Wis. (WMTV) - Illinois woman Erin Merryn spoke in Wisconsin Wednesday, pushing the state to pass the law in her namesake that aims to protect children and prevent child sexual abuse. Mar 22, 2018 Erin Merryn, survivor of sexual abuse as a child and the driving force behind Erin's Law, speaks to an auditorium full of students at Metamora Township High School last Monday, March 12. The girls were brought to a Children's Advocacy Center where they had to tell their stories to complete strangers, something Erin wasnt looking forward to at all. Names were the only thing she changed. Merryn travels the country advocating for children who are victims of sexual assault. She is the founder of Erin's Law, which requires public schools to teach children personal body safety on the prevention of child sexual abuse. He did respond admitting what he did and saying he is using his past to not make the same mistakes now in his life. My parents believed me and my cousin Brian confessed to the police, she said. Her name is Erin Merryn and she is the founder of Erins Law. Sexually abused and raped from age 6-8 by an adult neighbor Erin was threatened to stay silent by her abuser. I remember immediately after answering the interviewer I said "That's the reason I didn't tell before, I kept it to myself because I thought no one would believe me." The only education I ever received about sexual abuse was when I became a victim, and the abusers threatened bad things would happen if I ever told. On Thursday, Quinn signed "Erin's Law" at the Children's Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County in Hoffman Estates. "Erin Merryn's Law," a bill that will create a task force to study child sexual abuse in West Virginia, passed the state Senate unanimously on Monday. Well, something shocking happened. She broke down and cried and said Erin's Law could have saved her as a child, but instead she only got the message from her abuser, who she knew, and stayed silent. Eleven-year-old Erin Merryn's life was transformed on the night she was sexually abused by her cousin, someone she loved and trusted. Erin Merryn is a powerful speaker and advocate for countless, faceless children and adults in our country who have similarly suffered sexual abuse. From the age of 11 to 13, I was repeatedly sexually abused at the hands of a family member, an older cousin, she said. At no time should the school provide the information directly to the student (unless the student is over 18). The two continued to correspond for seven months. Merryn is a national spokesperson for the National Children's Alliance, becoming the first survivor of child sexual abuse that went through a Children's Advocacy Center to speak on national television about her experience.[1]. Known For. Bucco introduced Erins Law (S-2145) on May 2. Merryn: This wasn't bad luck. Merryn travels the country bearing witness to what happened to her in hopes of encouraging states to enact laws requiring sexual abuse education in schools. Senator Gillibrand on the federal version of Erin's Law to give federal funding to the law, and in December 2015 President Obama signed the federal version of Erin's Law under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Erin wrote that letter. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. He was given probation and counseling., Forgiveness is what set me free, she said. Alaska Dispatch: When you decided to confront and start corresponding with your cousin, how did it go at first? While the party was going on, and my friend's mom was in the house, this neighbor cornered me in a bathroom and abused me. (2013) That is what brought Erin to tell her story at Metamora Township High School last Monday afternoon, during an all-school assembly. Her friend slept through the assault, and Merryn remained silent. All rights reserved. Sponsored by Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage, HB 233 puts Alaska among the states considering "Erin's Law" in 2014. Alaska Dispatch: Would something like what you are proposing -- Erin's Law -- have helped you? Erin Merryn is an author, activist, speaker, wife, and mom to young human children and a fur baby named Bailey. Alaska Dispatch: What can someone reading about this do in their own life, or change about their own perspective, to make coming forward easier for victims? Author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today At a family gathering at her grandparents' lake house, she awoke in the middle of the night to find her cousin "Brian" (again, not his real name), then 13, lying next to her with his hands down her underwear. In her diary Erin Merryn reveals how her life was transformed one night when, as an eleven-year-old, she was sexually abused in her grandparents condo by her cousin, someone she loved and trusted. I often say victims are those who are killed by their attackers. Every six minutes a child is sexually abused in the U.S. One in every 4 girls and 6 boys will be sexually assaulted before the turn 18 over 90% by a family member or friend. When I look at you, I see nothing but scum. Maryland is the latest state, joining the crusade last month. My favorite story is out of my own state of Illinois (One lawmaker) had been against school mandates her entire career, and (the sponsor) warned me, she is going to get on her mic and go on about how this should not be passed, schools should not be mandated to do things, etc. Merryn: Yes. After graduating, Erin went on to earn her Masters degree in social work, but from time to time she would still consult her little pink childhood diary. In 2009 Texas passed a similar law but it was only a task force which did not mandate students be taught personal body safety, making Illinois the first state to require personal body safety education by law. InDecember 2015 President Obama signed thefederal version of Erin's Law providing federal funding for schools to use. Young children tend to hear a lot of messages about avoiding interactions with people they don't know, when in reality they are far more likely to face harm from a relative or family friend. After graduating with Bachelors and Masters Degrees in social work from Western Illinois and Aurora Universities in 2008 and 2009, Health Communications published her second book, Living for Today: From Incest and Molestation to Fearlessness and Forgiveness. ", Merryn's family, including her two sisters, moved to another neighborhood in the same town when Merryn was 8, and she stopped seeing Ashley. In the wee hours of the night, Ashley's uncle "Richard" (not his real name), who lived in the house with his niece, appeared in the darkened room. They never came, so I stayed silent. Erins Law has now going international with judge in Kerala India requiring Erins Law in the 2023-2024 school year. I found (the) freedom and peace I had longed for. Under Erins Law, the New Jersey Commissioner of Education must provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement this requirement. What do you think made him want to apologize, finally? She came to me after I had been abused for two years and told me words I never expected to hear, that she too was being abused by the same family member. Erin Merryn, A Voice for the Voiceless. While these inhumane animals may live among us, there is one sexual abuse survivor who has made it her mission to empower children about these evil, sick people and teach them about body safety. Instead I am still running from Brian. What once caused her shame, and something she never wanted to talk about, she now found herself wanting to turn it into a book. Merryn: The first thing someone can do is start talking about it. But many schools, she said, are using faculty social workers and psychologists because research shows its better taught by in-house staff then outside agencies. One day, a particular entry she wrote caught her eye. MORE: Moms and dads, can we talk about stranger danger? Merryn is an author, activist, and founder of Erin's Law. It allowed me to go on this mission to be a face and voice for millions by letting go of hatred and instead turning pain into a purpose. She also pointed out the real loss of innocence for a child is when they are sexually abused and nothing is done about it. The ability to forgive both my abusers set me free and gave me my voice back and the strength to speak out for others. Two against one, somebody had to believe us.. Only this time, the person behind it was her older cousin, a nice young man with a bright future to whom she looked at as the brother she never had.. CBS News' Reena Ninan visited a public school in Illinois to see how the school teaches kids about safe . Merryn: Many don't realize that there are 42 million survivors in America of child sexual abuse. I really open lawmakers' eyes when I share this with them. She is the force behind passing Erin's Law across America. After it was republished by Health Communications in early 2005, she began traveling the nation telling her story about the sexual abuse she endured at hundreds of high schools, colleges, sexual assault centers, child abuse conferences and community events. Eleven-year-old Erin Merryn's life was transformed on the night she was sexually abused by her cousin, someone she loved and trusted. Erin says she believes everyone is born with a purpose and she has found hers through the events that have occurred in her life. But her parents thought it was because of health problems she was having at the time. Childhood sexual abuse survivor turned author, speaker, child advocate and activist Erin Merryn is the founder and president of Erins Law. And for the next year and a half, repeatedly told me, This is our little secret. How I wondered am I suppose to tell this stranger my pain when I am too ashamed to even talk in detail with my parents about it. Teaching kids the differences between safe and unsafe touch, safe and unsafe secrets, how to report this to a safe adult and to keep reporting it if your abuse does not end, said Merryn. He told me, "Your goal is to convince everyone else." 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Sexually abused as a. So be careful sending little Tommy for ice at the machine down the hall and inform teens who often book motels after prom. MORE: Monmouth U. faces federal sexual assault case. My mission, through this legislation, is to educate children on what I never learned. ABC News agreed to use her pen name and a false name for the man she says abused her. Download it here. The abuse went on for years. No one would believe me, she recalls this man telling her. My abusers threatened me, and I believed them. It was just the beginning of a long journey. Info here from RAINNwww.rainn.org/news/president-signs-measures-support-state-action-prevent-and-address-child-sexual-abuseErin's media appearances have included Access Hollywood 2020Tamron Hall 2020HLN 2020CBS Morning Show 2019The Morning Blend 2019CNN 2018, HLN 2018, BUILD 2018 TLC Breaking the Silence Documentary TODAY show 2015, Nancy Grace 2015, ABC Nightline 2015, CNN 2015, Dr. Drew 2015, Inside Edition 2015, MSNBC 2015, Oprah Winfrey Network 2014, Windy City Live 2014, MSNBC 2013, FOX 2013, Katie Couric 2013, Oprah Life Class 2012, CNN 2012, Issues with Jane Velez Mitchell 2011, Oprah Winfrey Show October 2010, Montel Williams in April/July 2006, and Good Morning America in May 2006. CAC The place Erin Merryn broke her silence The Children's Advocacy Center of Northwest Cook County Illinois In 1998 seventy five thousand six hundred and forty seven abused children were seen in one hundred and thirty nine Children's Advocacy Centers in America. Forgiveness set me free. I think he knew that once he had us conditioned, we were easy targets. Sharing those details can be difficult because as survivors, they bring us back to the place where we endured the horror. This representative did get on her mic. A voice that flies across America and speaks at many of these CAC's that exist taking people back to my experience at the CAC and this time sharing all the details because I no longer carry the shame but instead a voice bringing awareness to these incredible centers that give children a new start on life and a path toward healing. (2013) CNN Newsroom Self - Child Abuse Survivor. [3], She graduated from Schaumburg High School in 2004[4] and earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Western Illinois University in 2008. The place Erin reclaimed her voice and began her journey to healing. Merryn: I was terrified. Here's a glimpse of her life and why she's on a quest for social change. Erin Elizabeth had cheerful holidays turned into a fight to protect herself from evil where she often lost. I also encourage parents to have a code word with their kids, she said. She earned a master's degree from Aurora University in social work. It was the first federal bill passed funding sexual abuse prevention education. Did anything make you an attractive target, or particularly vulnerable? I feel it would have given me the voice that these men took from me. Erin Merryn, survivor of sexual abuse as a child and the driving force behind Erin's Law, speaks to an auditorium full of students at Metamora Township High School last Monday, March 12. Alaska Dispatch: Do you think most lawmakers meaningfully comprehend the issue of sexual abuse? You will be believed.. I was abused. Merryn was also the owner of the viral Instagram cat, Bailey, until he died in December 2018. Ensuring all New Jersey kids have access to age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention education will end the cycle of abuse before it begins. [8] In November 2009, she published a second book, Living For Today, discussing earlier abuse by her neighbor. "He told me, just like in the past by this other perpetrator, 'Erin, this is our . Merryn lay on blankets on the floor next to Ashley, who was in her bed. We live in a society that keeps it hushed and (there is) so much taboo around it; people are afraid to speak up and say this happened to them. Im glad he gets body boundaries and safety and Ill be pounding it into his head as long as I can. Use safe and unsafe touch. She urged kids to come forward if they or someone they know is being sexually abused. "It's something that is going to be with me the rest of my life," Erin said. The next day they told their parents. Its word for word my diary from the ages of 10 until my senior year of high school. Meetings between the two families were called to sort out the problem, to no avail. When I was six years old, I was sexually abused at a neighbor's house. So I stayed silent. Erin Merryn (Author) Format: Kindle Edition See all formats and editions Kindle $12.99 Read with Our Free App Paperback $16.10 35 Used from $2.70 5 New from $12.50 Eleven-year-old Erin Merryn's life was transformed on the night she was sexually abused by her cousin, someone she loved and trusted. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two daughters. 2019 TIME USA, LLC. Are you afraid you will lose business? In it, Erin chronicles how she cultivated the strength to face her abuser and eventually found relief from years of emotional restlessness, while also igniting the beginnings of a new fearless journey. Her older cousin sexually abused her from 11-13 years old. The path to justice for survivors of sexual assault is not an easy road. "Erin's Law" is named after Schaumburg native and activist Erin Merryn. 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