In just a few short years, she has already persuaded half the countryto pass similar versions of the law. When Merryn eventually confided in Ashley about what had happened, her friend was not surprised; in fact, the scene was depressingly familiar to her. --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. According to Merryn, every school gets the option to pick a Erins Law program, and have an outside agency teach. Now she's on a quest to make sure lawmakers across America hear what she has to stay. I also encourage parents to have a code word with their kids, she said. So I stayed silent. I really open lawmakers' eyes when I share this with them. I remember being so utterly confused.. Unfortunately, children who are abused once are at even higher risk of being abused again by someone else because they are vulnerable and easy to prey on. The areas covered by your swimsuit are not for anyone to be touching, unless mommy and daddy are helping you with a bath. We need to start teaching kids this, she said. Merryn said she testified four times for the task force. On Thursday, Quinn signed "Erin's Law" at the Children's Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County in Hoffman Estates. So many children will be protected because of her." But her nightmare was just beginning. Buccos legislation has received support from prominent victims rights advocates and support organizations, including Morris County advocate Richard Pompelio; and Patrice Lenowitz, founder and executive director of The Nurtured Parent Support Group for Survivors of Domestic Abuse, a Bergen County organization serving survivors and protective parents across the state. She now runs Carrot's Instagram and shares pictures of Carrot sharing a similar demeanor of her previously owned cat, Bailey. Erin Elizabeth heard over the years from 11-13 "Nobody will believe you, you have no proof, you will destroy our large extended family, this is our secret don't tell anyone." (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) During her quest,. When Erin Merryn was a child, she was sexually abused by two people she knew and trusted, including a family member. Nightmares. She wanted him to know how much his actions had affected her life. I went to bed night after night crying into my pillow having nightmares, and keeping my secrets locked away in my childhood diary., Merryn found her voice at 13 when her younger sister said the words shell never forget: Brians gross!. 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. 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 . 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. Little did I realize, that by moving, I was getting that much closer to the next perpetrator in my life, she said. 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. 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. I also tell parents don't give childrens private parts pet names. Alaska Dispatch: When you broke your silence and spoke up, was it frightening? 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. And it was at her house the very first overnight that I woke up to her uncle who lived in the home sexually abusing me, said Merryn. Then, Erin said she told her family too. The same year I was born in 1985 was the first year the development of the first CAC in America was born in Alabama. See all See top. Says Merryn: "[Ashley] made me pinky promise not to say anything. How and when did you do it first? tax-exempt 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. It was the first time she supported a school mandate, and she retired later that year. She published a book called Bailey No Ordinary Cat that showcases Bailey's unusually gentle interactions with her three children. A week later, she got a reply. "Alabama needs this law because just like everywhere else in America . (Read why most child abuse goes unreported). Alaska Dispatch: Would something like what you are proposing -- Erin's Law -- have helped you? Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. The yearly videos had educated me, so I knew to tell the stranger to keep his change. 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. The abuse went on for years. Forgiving him allowed me to move forward with my life and decide to no longer let this thing be something I should be ashamed of, no longer allowing it to be a negative in my life, but letting it be a positive.. 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 . 46 reviews. 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. Motel management is NOT obligated to tell guests sex offenders are next door. Do I know the difference between the truth and a lie? This went on for a month before police got involved. She is an activist against child sexual abuse. 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. Merryn: I was terrified. After an evening of playing with Ashley's dollhouse and watching The Little Mermaid, the girls went to bed in Ashley's room. 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. When all you have ever been told by an abuser is to stay silent, no one will believe you, this is our secret, you learn to believe that, and (it) makes it extremely difficult to speak up about. Erin also included the correspondence between her cousin and herself, for readers to also hear the perpetrator's side. For so many years I stayed angry and bitter towards him. He continued to abuse her on and off for nearly two years, she says, often at holidays and celebrations with her close-knit extended family. Merryn said she was never taught to speak up about it, so shekept it a secret. It was a detailed account of how an officer came to her school to talk about stranger danger. Two years later, though,whenErin was 11, she said her older teenage cousin started abusing her too. Its word for word my diary from the ages of 10 until my senior year of high school. I wish I could say that Erins story is uncommon, but that is far from the truth its happening right here in our own backyard, Bucco said. The path to justice for survivors of sexual assault is not an easy road. Her friend slept through the assault, and Merryn remained silent. I can spend the rest of my life hating him, or I can forgive him and do something positive about this thing that continues to be a negative thing in my life, she said. You seem incredibly resilient. That is what brought Erin to tell her story at Metamora Township High School last Monday afternoon, during an all-school assembly. 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. But both she and her sister did tell their stories. See her personal website at ErinMerryn.net. And a third girl I know was also abused by him. 4 mos. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I met my best friend in kindergarten. She explained to her cousin that she didnt want to publish it out of revenge, rather to help the millions of other sexual assault survivors. 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. 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. My mission, through this legislation, is to educate children on what I never learned. Sexually abused and raped from age 6-8 by an adult neighbor Erin was threatened to stay silent by her abuser. Alaska Dispatch: Let's talk about two words we hear a lot when covering sexual abuse stories: victim and survivor. She didn't want to stop visiting her friend but tried to find times when Richard wasn't around. 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. She was afraid she would be a burden to her cousin and that no one would believe her. But where were the eight ways on how to "get away and tell today?" 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. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Instead of putting their daughters through further emotional trauma of a criminal trial, Erins parents decided not to press charges. Since going public 10 years ago, I have had no contact with him. 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. In December 2015, President Obama signed the federal version of Erin's Law providing federal funding toschools to provide this education. 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. 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 . I found myself locked in bedrooms, basements, bathrooms, a car, garage and repeatedly assaulted by my cousin.. But only 1 in every 10 sexually abused children ever tell anyone about it. Erins Law encourages research based curriculum, Merryn said. Those were just the number of children who broke their silence that year. It is my hope hearing my message today youll see the importance of what Im here to talk to you about, said Erin Merryn. It was just the beginning of a long journey. 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. She has made it her mission in life to get this legislation passed in all 50 states. Was this just bad luck? 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. In 2010, Merryn began a crusade to get Erin's Law passed across America. As an adult, she's reclaimed the voice her. A therapist urged her to get her anger out on paper by writing her cousin a letter detailing how she felt, and after she wrote it, she was to rip it up, burn it or otherwise throw it away. 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. "He told me, just like in the past by this other perpetrator, 'Erin, this is our . "Erin's Law" is named after Schaumburg native and activist Erin Merryn. Merryn now had a duty as a big sister to protect her younger sibling. Erin, now a 33-year-old wife and mother of two with one on the way, has spent the last eight years travelling to every state advocating for abused children. Wow, I have a decision to make. Her name is Erin Merryn and she is the founder of Erins Law. My sister and I were the only girls that he was around all the time. Gov. I think he knew that once he had us conditioned, we were easy targets. 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. What if their family is pressuring them to just keep quiet and get on with their life? The more I shared the more I felt heard like I was lifting this burden off me and by the way the forensic interviewer was talking to me and encouraged me she gave me the message she believed me. Check out Erins third book, An Unimagiable Act. This book describes Erins journey across America to get Erins Law passed and resources for survivors, parents, and educators. 2019 TIME USA, LLC. Erin Merryn Mar 2004 - Present18 years 7 months Chicago, IL Erin is an author, writer, and activist. See the sex abuse in Israel's ultra-orthodox community. Do you know if it was as healing for him as it was for you? Child molestation is an epidemic that needs to end now. Stolen Innocencewas published soon after. Erin's Law, named after Erin Merryn, has passed in 36 states and is pending in the other 14. I was keeping this secret with my best friend because he was also abusing her, Merryn said. Victims are those who don't survive. 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. Alaska Dispatch: Resiliency can be an important factor in how well survivors of abuse cope and in whether they go on to lead a healthy, happy life. These monsters are living in all of our backyards., (Tip: Offender Locator is a great app to have on your smart phone.). Putting the lives of children in danger and possibly taking their innocence is worth it? Alaska Dispatch: When you decided to confront and start corresponding with your cousin, how did it go at first? Well, something shocking happened. Innocence is worth it Erin to tell guests sex offenders are next door to say.! Richard was n't around to speak up about it it go at first angry and bitter him. 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