He was the father of my best friend. How do we lessen the control these pressures have on ourselves, our loved ones? (Read why most child abuse goes unreported). "He told me, just like in the past by this other perpetrator, 'Erin, this is our . My mom was a mess, that day she probably cried for 10 straight hours, looking at my dad saying, we missed all the red flags, her grades, she was depressed, Erin recalled. See her personal website at ErinMerryn.net. Motel management is NOT obligated to tell guests sex offenders are next door. Merryn, then 6, was excited about her first sleepover with her kindergarten classmate Ashley. In December 2015, President Obama signed the federal version of Erin's Law providing federal funding toschools to provide this education. 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. 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 is the author of three books about surviving incest, including "Living for Today." She also speaks nationally on the subject. 7Erin Merryn is a Woman of the Year because"She's taken her personal crusade and turned it into a public one. A week later, she got a reply. She now runs Carrot's Instagram and shares pictures of Carrot sharing a similar demeanor of her previously owned cat, Bailey. 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. Her older cousin sexually abused her from 11-13 years old. Erin Merryn, A Voice for the Voiceless. I will not stop until children in all 50 states are protected from sexual abuse.". For so many years I stayed angry and bitter towards him. 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. But her nightmare was just beginning. When I look at you, I see nothing but scum. 4 mos. 2019 TIME USA, LLC. Erin Merryn is a 21-year-old college sophomore who wrote a book, "Stolen Innocence: Memoir," about her struggles after she claims she was molested by her first cousin. She knew exactly what she was doing by asking simple questions on my life, friends, what I did for fun, and my family. Erins ongoing abuse with her friends uncle was over. Merryn realized he had been molesting her sister too. Erin said all she ever learnedin school was aboutstranger danger. But knowing it was not strangers who abused her,she has made it her mission as an adult to make sure kids in K-12 schoolsacross the countryonce a year learnfroma school psychologist or social workerabout personal body safety education. She has made it her mission in life to get this legislation passed in all 50 states. The two families have ceased having contact. She started by pulling out that little pink diary. "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." Names were the only thing she changed. House Bill 105 overwhelminglypassed the Ohio Housea year ago. Because so often, people that are being abused do not report it until theyre in their 30s, 40s and 50s cause nobody ever gave them the message onhow tospeak up and tell, Merryn said. Merryn said she testified four times for the task force. 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. Through her personal diary, written during the years of her abuse, Erin shares her journey through pain and confusion to inner strength and, ultimately, forgiveness. But what followed was depression,an eating disorder and a suicide attempt. She is the founder of Erin's Law, which is a group advocating for child sexual abuse awareness. After an evening of playing with Ashley's dollhouse and watching The Little Mermaid, the girls went to bed in Ashley's room. What's your advice for sexual abuse victims who may want to come forward, but who feel the abuse is better kept secret or forgotten? The place Erin reclaimed her voice and began her journey to healing. It is currently passed in 37 states as of January 2021. Erin Elizabeth was sexually abused from 11-13 by her older cousin. Through her speeches and books, Erin is an inspiration to professionals working daily to fight child abuse. 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. So be careful sending little Tommy for ice at the machine down the hall and inform teens who often book motels after prom. 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. 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. Merryn said the abuse only stopped because her family moved away. 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. Erin also included the correspondence between her cousin and herself, for readers to also hear the perpetrator's side. But both she and her sister did tell their stories. Erin says she believes everyone is born with a purpose and she has found hers through the events that have occurred in her life. The case never went to trial, and Brian received some counseling, but no punishment. Survivors need to know they have nothing to be ashamed of. Two against one, somebody had to believe us.. Says Merryn: "[Ashley] made me pinky promise not to say anything. Her friend slept through the assault, and Merryn remained silent. Lawmakers are in the dark about this. So far 27 states have passed Erins Law since 2010. Child molestation is an epidemic that needs to end now. "It's something that is going to be with me the rest of my life," Erin said. 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. According to Merryn, every school gets the option to pick a Erins Law program, and have an outside agency teach. EN. 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. Nightmares. She urged kids to come forward if they or someone they know is being sexually abused. Acting out both at home and in school, she was given an IEP (Individual Education Plan) and was told she was just going through a phase; that her parents brief separation was the probable root cause. I am so confident I will get this law passed in all 50 states, because God has already told me it will happen. Erin Merryn, force behind Erins Law, tells her story at Metamora Township High School, Central Illinois Poetry Out Loud regional winners announced, Area students named to St. Olaf Colleges Dean's List, Fall archery hunters reach third-highest turkey harvest on record for season, FOP seeks applicants for new Peer Wellness program that will assist law enforcement officers in crisis, Local students make Carthage College dean's list, Local students named to Illinois Wesleyan University's fall 2022 Dean's List, Local students named to Trinity Christian Colleges fall 2022 Dean's List, Illinois Department of Revenue reminds eligible taxpayers to take advantage of Senior Citizens Tax Deferral Program, United Methodists form new church in Washington, District 52 proposes referendum on April ballot, Illinois natives REO Speedwagon return to the Illinois State Fair Grandstand stage, Interrupted Journey exhibition opens at Dickson Mounds Museum, Scots win 12 events at Roger Haynes Invitational, WCHS Panthers bring home All-State Honors, State Titles. My goal in life is to give a voice to the voiceless and put these predators out of business, she said. Learn More. The family pressed charges against Brian, who ultimately admitted to three counts of sexual abuse. The abuse went on for years. As a result, she has been interviewed by many major news organizations and TV programs beginning in 2006, on Good Morning America, Oprah, CNN, Today Show, Fox, Katie Couric, Nightline, TLC, OWN, MSNBC, People Magazine, Time Magazine, Glamour Magazine, USA Today, London Times, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and dozens more local media. Erin wanted nothing more than to make him feel the hurt that she did. At age 11, Erin fell victim again. 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. 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. Bad things happen to children all the time, the Garden State may soon benefit from Merryns harrowing experience, knowledge and hope, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. How? 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. Who were they? Why is it so difficult to talk about? She kept quiet, but behavior problems soon followed. After reading that letter, a switch flipped inside Erin. The founder of Erin's Law. The law was passed in a number of states,[7] with New York becoming the 37th in 2019. 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. Jill Burke is a former writer and columnist for Alaska Dispatch News. Gov. After years as a teen struggling with nightmares and flashbacks of my abuse, attempting suicide, self-injury, etc., I decided to use that voice to confront my abuser For seven months we corresponded in letters. No one is allowed in the bathroom with you not even your friend. Im very concerned about the possibility of grooming or the losing the innocence of our young children. Merryn's family, including her two sisters, moved to another neighborhood in the same town when Merryn was 8, and she stopped seeing Ashley. The Church Sex Abuse Scandals Around the World, Child-Abuse Case Reveals Vietnam's Lax Social Services, (Read why most child abuse goes unreported). 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. [7] She published her diary detailing her cousin's abuse and her own recovery, relapse and reconciliation in book form as Stolen Innocence in 2005. Merryn: There is so much shame and stigma attached to 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. Merryn was also the owner of the viral Instagram cat, Bailey, until he died in December 2018. In 2013, Governor Quinn signed it into law requiring Illinois schools to teach it every single year. Alaska Dispatch: Would something like what you are proposing -- Erin's Law -- have helped you? 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