But nothing prepared her for two traumatizing events that have turned Merryn, now 25, into an activist, determined to prevent the same thing from happening to other children. 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. Says Merryn: "[Ashley] made me pinky promise not to say anything. Thats precisely why she does what she does. Use safe and unsafe touch. 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. Forgiveness is what set me free. Families pressuring loved ones to stay quiet is not uncommon, but as I often like to tell survivors, by speaking up you are not only helping yourself heal; you will help save other children from experiencing this same horror at the hands of their abuser. Erin also included the correspondence between her cousin and herself, for readers to also hear the perpetrator's side. Instead of putting their daughters through further emotional trauma of a criminal trial, Erins parents decided not to press charges. Our guest speaker for the Luncheon will now be Erin Merryn, childhood sexual abuse survivor turned author, speaker, child advocate and activist, and the force behind Erin . She was honored for her efforts in 2012 as one of Glamour Magazines 2012 Women of the Year. Read more It ended only after a chance conversation between Merryn and one of her sisters, who blurted out one day that their cousin Brian was "gross." The cousin used the same tactic as her first abuser telling her no one would believe her and there was no proof. My second abuser, my cousin, came from a family of all boys. (Read why most child abuse goes unreported). Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. CBN News Self - Children's Advocate. After Bailey's passing, she adopted a kitten named Carrot. Read more about Erin Merryn on her Erin's Law Facebook page and her website. Choosing to forgive has led me to live for today.. You seem incredibly resilient. She earned a master's degree from Aurora University in social work. Erins Law soon caught on nationwide. 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. Erin Merryn from Elgin, Illinois, was just weeks shy of her seventh birthday when she was raped by an adult neighbor. (See Gary Glitter's sex scandal.). I continued to write him because I wanted answers. Named by PEOPLE Magazine a HEROES Among us and one of fifteen women changing the world. They dont warn us about our own family, they dont teach us that in school, her age 12 entry stated. Erins ongoing abuse with her friends uncle was over. February 7, 2023 by Cindy Erin Merryn is a Global Advocate for Child Sex Abuse Prevention For years, Erin Merryn was too scared to speak up about sexual abuse. 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. [3], "I was not educated on not keeping secrets if someone was hurting me. Wow, I have a decision to make. After her parents decided to move Erins abuse ended but only brought her that much closer to her next abuser, an older teenage cousin who lived down the street from her. When I look at you, I see nothing but scum. It happened again after we moved away, when a cousin started abusing me in my sleep when I was 11 years old. 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. Merryn: I cover these two words in my second book, "Living for Today." How do we lessen the control these pressures have on ourselves, our loved ones? IG: The_Cat_Named_Carrot.Ellen is Carrot's biggest fan. Instead I am still running from Brian. High near 60F. (2013) CNN Newsroom Self - Child Abuse Survivor. It would have given me courage to know that I didn't have to live in constant fear that they could hurt me, and hurt me even worse if I told anyone. So before CAC's a child brought to a police station could be filled with anxiety and fear that they are in trouble. Read more about Erins Law at www.erinslaw.org, or about Erin herself at www.erinmerryn.net. Should someone have known something was wrong sooner? In 2010, Merryn helped create Erin's Law, which was the first law to be passed in the U.S. that required children to be taught sexual abuse prevention in school. Product Details Resources and Downloads Stolen Innocence Triumphing Over a Childhood Broken by Abuse: A Memoir By Erin Merryn Published by Health Communications Inc EB Distributed by Simon & Schuster LIST PRICE $12.99 PRICE MAY VARY BY RETAILER Get a FREE ebook by joining our mailing list today! MORE: Monmouth U. faces federal sexual assault case. These monsters are living in all of our backyards., (Tip: Offender Locator is a great app to have on your smart phone.). She began to think about all the other prevention classes and drills she learned in school: how to say no to drugs, what to do in case of a fire, what to do in case of a tornado, how to never answer the door if parents arent home. Requiring personal body safety education in public schools. I feel it would have given me the voice that these men took from me. I found (the) freedom and peace I had longed for. Merryn worked with U.S. In April, 2010, Illinois State Senator Tim Bivins agreed to meet with Erin and he became the first state legislator to sponsor Erins Law. Since that first meeting, Erin has met with hundreds of state legislators, testified dozens of times in front of State Senate and House committees, served on several committees to draft bills and implement the new laws, plus speaks regularly to schools, agencies, conferences and media nationwide. Throughout her school years, Erin Merryn of Schaumburg, Ill., received plenty of lessons in the dangers her elders thought she could encounter during her childhood. Chris Newlin - National Children's Advocacy Center Sunshine and a few clouds. There was one good thing about my sister coming forward, she said. Look out for motels that might house sex offenders. The family pressed charges against Brian, who ultimately admitted to three counts of sexual abuse. Merryn: What caused me to come forward was unfortunately finding out that my little sister was also being abused. The legislation, "Erin Merryn's Law," (S.6182 Klein/ A.8993 Dinowitz), would require schools to make a change to their . --TV host Katie Couric, 1992, 2002, and 2006 Woman of the Year.After suffering years of sexual abuse for six years of her childhood Erin broke her silence when she was 13 at a Children's Advocacy Center. But then, it started happening behind closed doors at crowded family functions. Seconds later his hand was down her pants. Merryn: I have witnessed some lawmakers come in voting against the bill who got on their mic after hearing me testify and (told) me they had all planned to vote against this bill and that my testimony changed their mind. I got five sentences to my five pages, but he responded and it opened a door of communication, she said. Merryn: I didn't expect a response back from my cousin because my letter was very harsh filled with so much anger and rage. For the next hour I relived as much as I was capable of sharing and just kept finding myself focusing on the large mirror having no clue their was a detective on the other side listening to my entire story and am very glad I did not know. Later, just weeks before her seventh birthday, she was raped by the same man. As an adult, she's reclaimed the voice her abusers tried to silence. Merryn advocates for sexual abuse victims. She wanted him to know how much his actions had affected her life. At age 17, she attempted suicide. Her dad singled me out during the party. 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. "The new bill brings a mandate," Merryn said, "mandating that all (Illinois) schools--pre-school through 12th grade--must begin next fall teaching sexual-abuse prevention education in the schools." Through her speeches and books, Erin is an inspiration to professionals working daily to fight child abuse. Known For. I also give lots of insight and resources to parents in my third book An Unimaginable Act on warning sings to look for like bed wetting, wearing extra layers of clothes, avoiding a certain person, not wanting to be around them when they had no problem before, academic changes in school, depression, withdrawal, nightmares, aggression; acting out sexually, she said. Again, she started having trouble in school, becoming distant and withdrawn. Therapists (and) an amazing school psychologist in high school really helped me heal. 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. According to the Office of the Monmouth County Prosecutors website, the only time that Megans Law information will be released to parents or families of students is if the school receives a Tier III high risk notice concerning an offender living within a 1,000-foot radius of their location. COLUMBUS, Ohio The Ohio Senate is considering a bill to teach elementary, middle and high school students how to protect themselves from sexual predators. Erins Law encourages research based curriculum, Merryn said. This representative did get on her mic. See her personal website at ErinMerryn.net Sexually abused and raped from age 6-8 by an adult neighbor Erin was threatened to stay silent by her abuser. She is an activist against child sexual abuse. Merryn kept her confusion to herself. Her courage breaking her silence allowed me to take a stand for both of us and be brave and tell her we can't keep this a secret, that we have to tell our parents. But her parents thought it was because of health problems she was having at the time. Erin Merryn (born February 2, 1985) is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, and An Unimaginable Act. The shame is so overwhelming. Erin has spoken at over 250 CAC events.In 2008 she began writing legislators to require personal body safety be taught to kids in school. Are you afraid you will lose business? The woman behind the bill, Erin Merryn visited Paul V. Moore High School in Central Square on Friday, making it [] CENTRAL SQUARE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Erin's Law its now in 37 states . 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. 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 and activist against sexual abuse who founded "Erin's Law," which requires school to. What do you think made him want to apologize, finally? One personal safety lesson learned at school that actually helped me in life was "stranger danger." I was told repeatedly by my cousin that I had no proof, that he would deny it, that no one would believe me. 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. 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. What are the most persistent knowledge gaps? Erins Law has now going international with judge in Kerala India requiring Erins Law in the 2023-2024 school year. 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. 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. I always feared he would come back. When Merryn eventually confided in Ashley about what had happened, her friend was not surprised; in fact, the scene was depressingly familiar to her. My abusers threatened me, and I believed them. She is at war against this silent evil that is lurking in the shadows and is devoted to opening the eyes of the public to the tens of thousands of children who are being abused right now silently in our own communities and backyards without our knowledge. 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 . And a third girl I know was also abused by him. He was given probation and counseling., Forgiveness is what set me free, she said. Pat Quinn on Thursday signed a new law extending sexual abuse education in Illinois schools. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. He knows the parts covered by his underwear and bathing suit arent for anyone to touch or see and he knows who safe people are if he ever needs help with something. 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. Childhood sexual abuse survivor turned author, speaker, child advocate and activist Erin Merryn is the founder and president of Erin's Law. Her friends uncle was over away, when a cousin started abusing me in my when... 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