The Cost of Inaction; New York State House Stalls of Life-Saving Erin's Law

NEW YORK - May 20, 2013 - PRLog -- Every day that passes without the House voting on Erin’s Law (http://www.erinslaw.org/), another child goes without a voice and is forced to live in silence. –Erin Merryn

New York, NY– Childhelp (http://www.childhelp.org/) and Erin Merryn of Erin’s Law (http://www.erinslaw.org/)—which requires all public schools in the United States implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program—are leading the national charge to stop more than 1,800 children from being killed each year  from abuse in the United States—the country with the worst record of all industrialized nations.  

Supporters of Childhelp’s Speak Up Be Safe (http://www.childhelp.org/programs/entry/speak-up-be-safe/)TM (SUBS) national abuse-prevention program whose curriculum will be introduced nationwide in fall 2013 and Erin’s Law (http://www.erinslaw.org/) are outraged that the state of New York is letting time slip by when the cost is much too high. They are urging the State House in Albany to pass Erin’s Law (http://www.erinslaw.org/).

New York is currently considering this crucial legislation and would become the eighth state to pass Erin’s Law. (http://www.erinslaw.org/) Merryn’s crusade to win all 50 states includes seven state legislatures that have adopted the law: Arkansas, Illinois, Maine, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi and Missouri. In addition to New York, passage is pending in Minnesota and Nevada.

Michael Medoro, Chief Development Officer for Childhelp (http://www.childhelp.org/), has taken his organization’s fight to Capitol Hill to shatter the silence and offer alternatives, such as Childhelp’s Speak Up Be Safe (http://www.childhelp.org/programs/entry/speak-up-be-safe/) TM (SUBS) curriculum for grades 1 through 6. It will equip children with skills to arm themselves from abuse in its various forms as well as via technology like “sexting,” internet predators and cyberbullying.

About:
Since 1959, Childhelp (http://www.childhelp.org/) has brought the light of hope and healing into the lives of countless children as a leading national non-profit organization dedicated to helping at-risk children. Childhelp's programs and services include residential treatment services, children's advocacy centers, therapeutic foster care, group homes and child abuse prevention, education and training. Childhelp (http://www.childhelp.org/) created the Childhelp National Day of Hope®, held each April during National Child Abuse Prevention Month that mobilizes Americans to join the fight against child abuse.

For more information please visit childhelp.org. To schedule an interview with Erin Merryn, please contact Eden Gordon at 202-714-6014 or edengordon@edengordonmedia.com