But both she and her sister did tell their stories. One day, a particular entry she wrote caught her eye. 46 reviews. However, Merryn said this time the perpetrator was an older cousin, someone she had viewed as a brother figure. He threatened her to stay silent so she kept her secrets locked away in her childhood diary. It just turned into a screaming match between my mom and his mom, your son did this, your girls are liars, remembered Erin. 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. Erins Law soon caught on nationwide. 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. CBS News' Reena Ninan visited a public school in Illinois to see how the school teaches kids about safe . He got us quiet and continued to get away with it. 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. That happened until I was 13. 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. So, instead of speaking out, the only person she told her thoughts and feelings to was herself in the form of a little pink diary. Here's how to protect your kids from online predators. Erin Merryn, 30, a child sexual abuse survivor and creator of the legislation, said schools generally fail to give young students adequate awareness and a voice on the issue of sexual abuse. 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. Almost all states that have passed it are using the program, while some states are deciding how their schools will implement It into the curriculum.. Who encouraged you to keep talking, to keep fighting? What factors came together for you to be able to not only overcome what happened, but to also thrive? She has appeared on Oprah, Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, Fox, MSNBC, TLC documentary Breaking the Silence, CBS This Morning, Katie Couric, Tamaron Hall, 700 Club, and over 200 local media stations. 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. Choosing to forgive has led me to live for today. The abuse continued until she was almost 9. My second abuser, my cousin, came from a family of all boys. 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. Alaska Dispatch: You were preyed upon not once, but twice (two different abusers during different stages of childhood). 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. Sharing those details can be difficult because as survivors, they bring us back to the place where we endured the horror. She also pointed out the real loss of innocence for a child is when they are sexually abused and nothing is done about it. ", Merryn's family, including her two sisters, moved to another neighborhood in the same town when Merryn was 8, and she stopped seeing Ashley. Stolen Innocencewas published soon after. She urged kids to come forward if they or someone they know is being sexually abused. Im very concerned about the possibility of grooming or the losing the innocence of our young children. Nightmares and flashbacks continued, and she started harming herself. So many children will be protected because of her." I remember being so utterly confused.. As the abuse continued, and as she was forced to see her abuser over and over again in social situations, she struggled with self-doubt, panic attacks, nightmares and the weight of whether or not to tell her . 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. Children must be taught to tell a trusted adult if anyone touches their private parts. But nobody asked those important questions. Merryn: I cover these two words in my second book, "Living for Today." Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Erin wanted nothing more than to make him feel the hurt that she did. COURIER/JOELLYN CURRY Merryn kept her confusion to herself. I got five sentences to my five pages, but he responded and it opened a door of communication, she said. But her parents thought it was because of health problems she was having at the time. Merryn said she was never taught to speak up about it, so shekept it a secret. Confronting him empowered me and eventually allowed me to forgive him when he wrote a letter apologizing. So before CAC's a child brought to a police station could be filled with anxiety and fear that they are in trouble. Ill never be abused again, its just all gonna go away.. Every parent should do their homework before they send their kids anywhere. (2016) Consider This Self - Author and Children's Advocate. 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. This representative did get on her mic. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two daughters. Sponsored by Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage, HB 233 puts Alaska among the states considering "Erin's Law" in 2014. High near 60F. tax-exempt 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. The words of my cousin began haunting me. Erin endured the abuse from age 6 to 8 and from 11 to 13 and felt the long-lasting effects of her guilt, shame and loss of innocence. As a young child from 6 to 8 (years old), when the neighbor was abusing me, he warned me if I told anyone he would come get me; he knew where I lived. Check out pictures, bibliography, and biography of Erin Merryn Merryn: The first thing someone can do is start talking about it. Sexually abused and raped from age 6-8 by an adult neighbor Erin was threatened to stay silent by her abuser. Merryn now. By breaking your silence you are reclaiming your voice. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I met my best friend in kindergarten. 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. Maryland is the latest state, joining the crusade last month. We need to start teaching kids this, she said. My sister and I both left with stuffed animals and feeling like our secret was now in good hands. This went on for a month before police got involved. EN RU CN DE ES. 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? Childhood sexual abuse survivor turned author, speaker, child advocate and activist Erin Merryn is the founder and president of Erin's Law. Erin Merryn (born February 2, 1985) is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, and An Unimaginable Act. It turned out cousin Brian was abusing Merryns little sister, too. I was told repeatedly by my cousin that I had no proof, that he would deny it, that no one would believe me. 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. Unfortunately for many survivors they never see their perpetrators held accountable. 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. That is just (in) America. 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. Child molestation is an epidemic that needs to end now. But instead of telling everyone to vote against it, she told everyone to vote in support of this bill. So I stayed silent. Oh and of course my cousin's voice echoing through my head "No one will believe you, you have no proof, you will destroy this family, this is our secret!" Erin, a Chicago-area native, first introduced the legislation in Illinois, and the bill was given her namesake. (Josh Rultenberg/Spectrum News 1), California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The Ohio Senate is considering a bill to teach elementary, middle and high school students how to protect themselves from sexual predators, Erins Law is named after Erin Merryn who was sexually abused as a child, Thirty-seven states have passed Erins Law and Merryn has tried three times in seven years to get the bill passed in Ohio, House Bill 105 overwhelmingly passed the Ohio House a year ago. 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. Here's a glimpse of her life and why she's on a quest for social change. Its word for word my diary from the ages of 10 until my senior year of high school. Realizing I was not a fault and learning to let go of the guilt. These monsters are living in all of our backyards., (Tip: Offender Locator is a great app to have on your smart phone.). I often say victims are those who are killed by their attackers. She was afraid she would be a burden to her cousin and that no one would believe her. www.accessonline.com/videos/ellen-degeneres-gives-internet-famous-cat-a-call-in-quarantine, www.rainn.org/news/president-signs-measures-support-state-action-prevent-and-address-child-sexual-abuse, www.accessonline.com/videos/ellen-degeneres-gives-internet-famous-cat-a-call-in-quarantine. After enduring a childhood filled w. Requiring personal body safety education in public schools. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Erin Merryn is an author (Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, An Unimaginable Act), activist, and founder of Erin's Law. But at age 11, Merryn's second nightmare began. Visit sheriffalerts.com to find out if there are sex offenders in your area. 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. I just figured I told my mom, and I never had to talk about this again. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. The next day they told their parents. It can happen to anyone, which is why we need to empower our children with their voice to speak up and tell and to not keep it a secret if they are abused. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Do I know the difference between the truth and a lie? Alaska Dispatch: Let's talk about two words we hear a lot when covering sexual abuse stories: victim and survivor. I pull out my sixth grade DARE card and tell lawmakers I knew the eight ways to say "no" to drugs and have never tried even a cigarette and I am nearly 30 years old. The shame is so overwhelming. Call it what it is: penis and vagina.. I also tell parents don't give childrens private parts pet names. Eventually though the conversation has to shift and that question that I will never forget. Soon it was no longer our secret and I was behind a different closed door not the one to a bedroom, a bathroom, basement, or closet but this time into a colorful room with a small table and bright light shinning through the skylight. My abuse first happened at weeks shy of my seventh birthday by a neighbor it went on until age 8 and a half. 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. A safe touch could be a high five or hug and an unsafe touch is someone touching you in the areas covered by your swimsuit, or your private parts, Merryn said. Again, she started having trouble in school, becoming distant and withdrawn. She published a book called Bailey No Ordinary Cat that showcases Bailey's unusually gentle interactions with her three children. 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. Survivors need to know they have nothing to be ashamed of. 25 $. At no time should the school provide the information directly to the student (unless the student is over 18). But only 1 in every 10 sexually abused children ever tell anyone about it. Thirty-seven states have passed Erins Law and Merryn has tried three times in seven years to get the bill passed in Ohio. My name is Erin Merryn and I am a survivor of child sexual abuse. As an adult, she's reclaimed the voice her. Immediately I thought I was being asked this question because she already did not believe me. Unthinkable acts. I am a survivor. Is there anything about your life circumstances that you think made you a target? 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. I am so confident I will get this law passed in all 50 states, because God has already told me it will happen. 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. As I describe in my books, that center was the foundation of my healing. 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. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Her name is Erin Merryn and she is the founder of Erins Law. 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." Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Please join Erin Merryn in her crusade to protect children from sexual abuse and donate to help her with her travel expenses today! Instead of putting their daughters through further emotional trauma of a criminal trial, Erins parents decided not to press charges. She started by pulling out that little pink diary. There, at her friends house, in the middle of the night, she was sexually assaulted by her friends uncle. But then, it started happening behind closed doors at crowded family functions. Merryn: Many don't realize that there are 42 million survivors in America of child sexual abuse. Childhood sexual abuse survivor turned author, speaker, child advocate and activist Erin Merryn is the founder and president of Erins Law. 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 spoke to members of the Ohio Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee of how she was sexually abused as a child. Erin said he would occasionally downplay what he did, but he never denied it. 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. Merryn says her abuse ended when the family moved to a new neighborhood, Schaumburg, Illinois but she took her secret with her. Thinking she had finally escaped the endless sexual abuse, Merryn, the keynote speaker at the Sept. 26 luncheon, was once again sexually abused by a cousin beginning at the age of 11 at a family home in Lake Geneva. 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. Lawmakers are in the dark about this. The cousin used the same tactic as her first abuser telling her no one would believe her and there was no proof. Merryn now had a duty as a big sister to protect her younger sibling. There are thousands of accused sex offenders every year who are found not guilty living in our communities. After Bailey's passing, she adopted a kitten named Carrot. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. 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." Two years later, though,whenErin was 11, she said her older teenage cousin started abusing her too. Of course I was asked what I was referring to and I said my cousin Brian has been doing bad things. The first episode began on a warm May night in 1991. 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. I continued to write him because I wanted answers. Erin is now on a mission to persuade all 50 states to pass Erins Law, which mandates that all public schools use age-appropriate curricula to teach students how to tell on anyone who touches or attempts to touch their private parts. (2012) Fox News Self - Author of 'An Unimaginable Act'. Visit Amazon.au's Erin Merryn Page and shop for all Erin Merryn books. 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. Merryn, then 6, was excited about her first sleepover with her kindergarten classmate Ashley. Alaska Dispatch: Thank you for reminding us that abuse happens across all socioeconomic conditions. Again, she was told to keep quiet, that no one would believe her if she said anything and that she had no proof. 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