MDT Lunch & Learn ft. Author, Survivor, and Activist Erin Merryn

The Children's Advocacy Center and Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Bradfield M. Shealy are excited to have a Lunch & Learn to bring even more awareness to Child Abuse Prevention Month and National Crime Victims' Rights Week!

We are pleased to bring in Author, Survivor, & Activist Erin Merryn.

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. The place Erin reclaimed her voice and began her journey to healing. 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. This decision has brought her on a crusade across America to pass what is known as Erin's Law. Erin's Law is the first US child sexual abuse prevention education law requiring children be educated in schools. Erin has been traveling state to state testifying to lawmakers to pass Erin's law for 7 years. It is currently passed in 37 states as of January 2021. In December 2015 President Obama signed the federal version of Erin's Law providing federal funding for schools to use. It was the first federal bill passed funding sexual abuse prevention education.

Erin's media appearances have included Access Hollywood 2020 Tamron Hall 2020 HLN 2020 CBS Morning Show 2019 The Morning Blend 2019 CNN 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. 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. In December 2010 I was voted News Maker of the year for the Daily Herald.

She earned her masters degree in Social Work and is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, An Unimaginable Act, Bailey No Ordinary Cat & The Diary of a Cat Named Carrot. Erin is a mom to three little girls.

Host or Publisher Children's Advocacy Center of Lowndes County, Inc.