Alaska's version of Erin's Law is currently under consideration by the Alaska State Legislature as House Bill 233. These monsters are living in all of our backyards., (Tip: Offender Locator is a great app to have on your smart phone.). After her parents decided to move Erin's abuse ended but only brought her that much closer to her next abuser, an older teenage cousin who lived . It was the first federal bill passed funding sexual abuse prevention education. The areas covered by your swimsuit are not for anyone to be touching, unless mommy and daddy are helping you with a bath. Known For. The instruction will be provided by a school nurse who has completed professional development sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention. Merryn saidif parents are not comfortable, the bill allows parents toopt their kids out of the education. She was also afraid she would lose her innocence. She is an activist against child sexual abuse as well as the founder of Erin's Law, which requires public schools to teach children personal body safety in order to prevent child sexual abuse. 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. 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. And for the next year and a half, repeatedly told me, This is our little secret. Of course I was asked what I was referring to and I said my cousin Brian has been doing bad things. My goal in life is to give a voice to the voiceless and put these predators out of business, she said. Alaska Dispatch: Do you think most lawmakers meaningfully comprehend the issue of sexual abuse? I often say victims are those who are killed by their attackers. Every parent should do their homework before they send their kids anywhere. Her name is Erin Merryn and she is the founder of Erins Law. Erin Merryn, a sexual abuse survivor, applauds Stewart for making her story public. Sharing those details can be difficult because as survivors, they bring us back to the place where we endured the horror. It is when they hear my story of how I was raped, and how my abusers controlled the situation by being the only ones talking to me about what was happening, that they "get it." I continued to write him because I wanted answers. The center provided me a safe place to connect with people who understood unlike my friends in school who did not understand what I had gone through. After describing the difference between the truth and a lie I was asked if I agreed to tell the truth that day. The reality is, 93 percent of the time it is not strangers that are hurting kids. The day I left that place I took a piece of my life back, and that was my voice. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. Look out for motels that might house sex offenders. Childhood sexual abuse survivor turned author, speaker, child advocate and activist Erin Merryn is the founder and president of Erin's Law. (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) I was abused. ThediaryIkept my secrets locked away in, where I lost my innocence, I turned into a book mysenior year of high school called Stolen Innocence, because thats whathappened to me, Merryn said. Merryn: I cover these two words in my second book, "Living for Today." The legislation, "Erin Merryn's Law," (S.6182 Klein/ A.8993 Dinowitz), would require schools to make a change to their . 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. The school, community organization, day care center, etc. Details Eleven-year-old Erin Merryn's life was transformed on the night she was sexually abused by her cousin, someone she loved and trusted. But where were the eight ways on how to "get away and tell today?" 2022 Anchorage Daily News. No one will believe you, Erin. At no time should the school provide the information directly to the student (unless the student is over 18). Confronting him empowered me and eventually allowed me to forgive him when he wrote a letter apologizing. As an adult, she's reclaimed the voice her abusers tried to silence. She is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for . "Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I met my best friend in kindergarten. Glamour magazine named Merryn Woman of the Year 2012, and People magazine named her one of fifteen women changing the world and a HEROES Among us in 2013.[9]. God has healed me, made me whole again, and has shown me the ability to forgive, the freedom it brings yourself, and shown me my purpose in this life, and that is to give kids the voice I didn't have. Children must be taught to tell a trusted adult if anyone touches their private parts. Merryn: The first thing someone can do is start talking about it. Merryn didn't tell anyone until she was 13 and she suspected her sister was also being abused. Erin wanted nothing more than to make him feel the hurt that she did. He told me, "Your goal is to convince everyone else." As I describe in my books, that center was the foundation of my healing. After an evening of playing with Ashley's dollhouse and watching The Little Mermaid, the girls went to bed in Ashley's room. From the age of 11 to 13, I was repeatedly sexually abused at the hands of a family member, an older cousin, she said. He cornered her in basements, bathrooms and bedrooms, always reminding her that she shouldn't bother telling anyone because no one would believe her. 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. Are you afraid you will lose business? At the age of 13, Erin finally got the courage to tell her parents after learning her younger sister was being abused by that same cousin. No one is allowed in the bathroom with you not even your friend. She is not ashamed of the sexual abuse she endured as a child and, instead, feels inspired to put a face and voice on childhood sexual abuse. It was so brutal I thought I was dying, Merryn, Glamour magazines 2012 Woman of the Year, recalled in an interview with the Asbury Park Press. The man, then in his late 20s, abused her several more times in the next year, including, she says, raping her during a daytime visit when she thought he wouldn't be home. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Erin Merryn, a Chicago-area resident behind an Ohio bill that would require public schools to provide age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention instruction, told a Senate. Merryn: I didn't expect a response back from my cousin because my letter was very harsh filled with so much anger and rage. So, she forgave him. Have there been times in your life when haven't done well? She told them that, growing up in Illinois, she had experienced tornado drills, fire drills and bus drills; was taught about stranger danger and eight ways to say no to drugs through D.A.R.E., but no one ever taught her how to protect herself from sexual abuse and what to do if a family member or friend molested or raped her. In the end, he was given seven years of probation, 1,000 hours of community service, he attended a two-year sex offender program, and couldnt come within 100 feet of Erin or her sister. When I look at you, I see nothing but scum. A place I went to with my eleven year old sister and mother. Erin's Law, named after Erin Merryn, has passed in 36 states and is pending in the other 14. After enduring a childhood filled w. My sister and I told our parents the next day (and) we were referred to the Children's Advocacy Center by police detectives to be interviewed. Erin Elizabeth had cheerful holidays turned into a fight to protect herself from evil where she often lost. The Children's Advocacy Center of Northwest Cook County, Ill. (there are 900 of these centers across America in every state), helped give me the courage in my forensic interview after my sister and I broke our silence to tell what had happened. Illinois is the fifth state to pass Erin's Law since she took up the cause. Merryn kept her confusion to herself. Erin Merryn (born February 2, 1985) is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, and An Unimaginable Act. I came from a good home, two parents, good schools, safe neighborhood, etc. She now runs Carrot's Instagram and shares pictures of Carrot sharing a similar demeanor of her previously owned cat, Bailey. I know that when theres one in four girls and one in six boys (being abused) Im not the only one standing in this room that this has happened to, Erin said of the statistics. You will eventually hear about this law being passed in all 50 states, and I plan on one day taking it and making it international, said Erin. Instead I am still running from Brian. In 2014 People magazine named her one of fifteen women changing the world along with Oprah and Hillary Clinton. I feel it would have given me the voice that these men took from me. Unfortunately for many survivors they never see their perpetrators held accountable. Merryn: I reclaimed my voice in the Children's Advocacy Center. Merryn found her voice at 13 when her younger sister said the words she'll never forget: "Brian's gross!" It turned out cousin Brian was abusing Merryn's little sister, too. Her friend slept through the assault, and Merryn remained silent. I also learned in group how to create a safe place to escape to when memories flooded my memory.While I was not ready at thirteen and fourteen to immediately share the journey of what all I went through because I was still too ashamed the Children's Advocacy Center laid the foundation in my healing to one day let that voice be heard. He was the father of my best friend. Lawmakers are in the dark about this. What once caused her shame, and something she never wanted to talk about, she now found herself wanting to turn it into a book. By speaking up even when family is against the idea, it is freedom for a survivor and allows them to reclaim a piece of their lives back. 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. My sister and I both left with stuffed animals and feeling like our secret was now in good hands. Childhood sexual abuse survivor turned author, speaker, child advocate and activist Erin Merryn is the founder and president of Erins Law. Merryn: This wasn't bad luck. In 2008, Erin decided to step up her efforts to protect children nationwide and started writing state legislators to ask them to pass laws requiring schools to better educate children, school employees and parents how to prevent and stop child sexual abuse. Illinois is the first state by law to mandate Erins Law. Ensuring all New Jersey kids have access to age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention education will end the cycle of abuse before it begins. Today there are more then 700 Children Advocacy Centers in America and millions of children have walked through those doors.Before there were CAC's children were interviewed numerous times in places such as police stations. My abuse first happened at weeks shy of my seventh birthday by a neighbor it went on until age 8 and a half. Victims of abuse know their perpetrators 80% to 90% of the time, says David Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. Last week the law passed in two more states, Virginia and Wyoming, bringing the total to 34. Erin Merryn (Author) 139 ratings Kindle Edition $17.99 Read with Our Free App Paperback $16.56 16 Used from $11.22 5 New from $45.35 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 has appeared in People Magazine, Glamour Magazine, Time Magazine, The New York Times, Time Magazine, New York Post, The London Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, among others. Carrot has 281,000 instagram followers. Those were just the number of children who broke their silence that year. He was given probation and counseling., Forgiveness is what set me free, she said. So far 27 states have passed Erins Law since 2010. What are the most persistent knowledge gaps? Erin said they just wanted to make sure their nephew got help. 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. This decision has brought her on a crusade across America to pass what is known as Erin's Law. Around the time we were getting ready to move away, my friend had a birthday party. Sexually abused and raped from age 6-8 by an adult neighbor Erin was threatened to stay silent by her abuser. Use safe and unsafe touch. But instead of destroying it, she ended up emailing her five-page account of anger and rage to her cousin, who was now attending college. Erin decided at a young age to take a stand against evil and expose the silent epidemic of child sexual abuse in the spotlight. Has anything particularly heartened you? All rights reserved. Silence Broken and Stigmas Shattered -- Help for Incest Survivors Is Here Fans of Erin Merryn's heart-wrenching debut memoir Stolen Innocence were left wondering at the end what would become of an emotionally fragile Erin after her confrontation with the reality of being a child of incest and molestation. Please join Erin Merryn in her crusade to protect children from sexual abuse and donate to help her with her travel expenses today! As I often tell people, our innocence was stolen, (our) trust taken, but the one thing we can reclaim as survivors is our voices. What factors came together for you to be able to not only overcome what happened, but to also thrive? Merryn: I was terrified. Erin Merryn (born February 2, 1985) is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, and An Unimaginable Act. Visit sheriffalerts.com to find out if there are sex offenders in your area. 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. There is a misconception about this issue many people think sexual abuse only happens to the poor, to people who come from broken homes, etc. I eventually would return back to the room I was interviewed in nine months later when I began doing individual counseling but was still not ready to go there into details the shame overwhelmed me however I did learn to finally stop blaming myself for what happened to my younger sister and my entire family. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I met my best friend in kindergarten. Check out pictures, bibliography, and biography of Erin Merryn Hes grown into quite the little man and doesnt want me near the bathroom when he showers or gets dressed and I respect that. House Bill 105 overwhelminglypassed the Ohio Housea year ago. Alaska Dispatch: You have since spoken up in a big way. Im very concerned about the possibility of grooming or the losing the innocence of our young children. Erin Merryn is a powerful speaker and advocate for countless, faceless children and adults in our country who have similarly suffered sexual abuse. He threatened her to stay silent so she kept her secrets locked away in her childhood diary. Erin's Law, which debuted in Illinois, is now in 37 states and mandates that public schools teach age-appropriate sex abuse prevention to grades as young as pre-K. Merryn said those lessons on . Motel management is NOT obligated to tell guests sex offenders are next door. They dont warn us about our own family, they dont teach us that in school, her age 12 entry stated. (See Gary Glitter's sex scandal.). Named by PEOPLE Magazine a HEROES Among us and one of fifteen women changing the world. Every other headline horrifies the public with another predator taking not just advantage of a child but everything from a child. She was named Glamour Magazine Woman of the Year in 2012 and a People magazine Hero Among Us for her tireless work promoting Erin's Law nationwide with a mission to our keep children safe by educating them about personal body safety. The parents can then share the information that the schools provided with anyone else in their household. But nobody asked those important questions. Survivors need to know they have nothing to be ashamed of. 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. Merryn is an author, activist, and founder of Erin's Law. The bill had already passed the House . (2013) Childhood sexual abuse survivor turned author, speaker, child advocate and activist Erin Merryn is the founder and president of Erin's Law. But then, it started happening behind closed doors at crowded family functions. So began her fight to bring this epidemic to the forefront, to push for every state to implement a prevention-oriented child sex-abuse program that teaches parents and school personnel how to recognize the signs of sexual abuse, and teaches kids from Kindergarten through twelfth grades techniques on how to also acknowledge abuse and tell a trusted adult. MORE: Cancer-surviving mom stays strong for her son. The yearly videos had educated me, so I knew to tell the stranger to keep his change. ALBANY, N.Y. - The Independent Democratic Conference was joined today by Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, (D-Bronx), and nationally recognized anti-abuse advocate and survivor Erin Merryn to hail the passage of important legislation to stamp out child sexual abuse in New York. For so many years I stayed angry and bitter towards him. The voice that was silenced for so long. 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. I didnt want to talk to anyone about this. Ill never be abused again, its just all gonna go away.. Eleven states have passed the legislation. Forgiving him did not mean what he did was right, she stressed. These days hes almost 9 and I dont really tag along to play dates anymore, but every time I drop him off, I tell him, if you have to use the bathroom, lock the door and have privacy. Merryn now. will then mail or hand the parents or responsible adult family member the Megans Law information. Maryland is the latest state, joining the crusade last month. CBN News Self - Children's Advocate. Visiting Alaska this week, Erin Merryn is a long way from home, and even farther from the torturous past she endured as a sexually abused child. How and when did you do it first? Eleven-year-old Erin Merryn's life was transformed on the night she was sexually abused by her cousin, someone she loved and trusted. I had all the warning signs of an abused kid -- labeled behavior(ally) and emotionally disturbed, given an IEP (Individual Education Plan) for that behavior, I had anger problems, put my hand through a window weeks after being raped at 7 years old and threw tantrums on the floors in school. "Alabama needs this law because just like everywhere else in America . 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. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Here's How We Amplify It | National Children's Alliance", "Erin Merryn Fights for Law to Help Child Sexual Assault Victims", "Erin's Law: When the Abuser Is No Stranger", "State Senate Passes Erin Merryn's Law Aimed at Child Sex Abuse Prevention", "Survivor Recalls Alleged Incest in Book", "Child Sexual Abuse Survivor Gets Law Passed", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Erin_Merryn&oldid=1132623568, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 January 2023, at 19:15. The alaska state Legislature as house Bill 233 year ago for countless faceless. Said they just wanted to make sure their nephew got help abuse and assault awareness and prevention animals and like! Me free, she 's reclaimed the voice that these men took me. Children from sexual abuse in the bathroom with you not even your friend parents! Links are at the top of the page across from the article title sexual. 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