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Erin’s Law

Middle School Lesson

7th Grade Classroom Lesson

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State Standards

Counseling Standards:

SS2 - Advocate for self in multiple settings using assertiveness skills

SS5 - Exercise personal safety skills, including refusal skills

SK2: Compare and contrast healthy vs. unhealthy behaviors

SS10: Appropriately utilize social media to enhance learning, develop positive relationships communicate, and engage in age appropriate entertainment.

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What is Erin’s Law?

•Erin’s Law is named after author, speaker and activist, Erin Merryn

•Erin is a childhood sexual abuse survivor, who introduced an Illinois law that was named after her

•The law is designed to teach students techniques to recognize sexual abuse and tell a trusted adult

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What do you remember about Erin’s Law from

last year?

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Definition of Abuse

  • Intimidation or manipulation of another person
  • Abusive relationships are about getting and keeping power and control
  • Abuse can happen to all types of people

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What is Sexual Abuse?

Sexual Abuse – Pressuring or forcing someone to watch or participate in sexual activities they do not want to do or making a person feel uncomfortable or unsafe

Examples:

  • inappropriate comments or words
  • not respecting personal boundaries
  • inappropriate touch
  • not respecting when someone says “no”
  • inappropriate pictures on social media

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Staying Safe

  • Know your personal boundaries
  • You are in control of your body
  • No one has the right to touch you without your permission
  • Good Secrets vs. Bad Secrets
  • Remember your “Internal Alarm”
    • Trust your gut

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Red Flag Behaviors

  1. Adult giving a child special attention
  2. Adult trying to spend time along with child
  3. Buying a child expensive gifts or giving them money
  4. Treating a child as “the favorite”
  5. Physical affection towards child: kissing, hugging, holding hands, invading personal space

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Ways To Stay Safe & Be Assertive

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    • Say “No!”
    • Leave the situation
    • Find a safe/trusted adult
    • There is a difference between reporting threatening or dangerous situations and gossiping or snitching

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Speak Up for Yourself! Tell someone if….

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  • A relationship or situation feels unsafe
  • You are being emotionally or physically threatened or harmed
  • You are feeling peer pressure
  • A friend tells you they are unsafe or in danger

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Things to Remember...

• No one deserves to be abused or threatened. It is never the victim’s fault.

• You have a right to ask for help. Reporting abuse will not get you in trouble.

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• Sexual Abuse victims are both male and female

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Who Can Help?

•Trusted Adult – parent, friend’s parent, police officer, religious member, sports coach

• School -social worker, school counselor, school nurse, teacher, coach, principal

•KEEP TALKING UNTIL SOMEONE HELPS!

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What Happens Next?

  1. You will be listened to, believed, supported, and cared for!
  2. We will do everything we can to help keep you safe!
  3. Law Enforcement and Child Protective Services will be contacted.
  4. You WILL NOT be in trouble.

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Social Media

Safety

Phone/Tablet/Chromebooks

  • Apps
  • Gaming
  • Texting
  • Social Media

How are you keeping yourself safe both mentally and physically?

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GAme Time

Let’s move around & play a little True or False.

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When I read a statement, move to side of the room that indicates True or False depending on what you think the correct answer is.

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Social Dilemma

Link: https://www.netflix.com/watch/81254224?trackId=255824129&tctx=0%2C0%2CNAPA%40%40%7C9f6eabbd-269d-4801-be1e-ef5c5f9db677-142777148_titles%2F1%2F%2Fsocial%20dilemma%2F0%2F0%2CNAPA%40%40%7C9f6eabbd-269d-4801-be1e-ef5c5f9db677-142777148_titles%2F1%2F%2Fsocial%20dilemma%2F0%2F0%2Cunknown%2C%2C9f6eabbd-269d-4801-be1e-ef5c5f9db677-142777148%7C1%2CtitlesResults%2C81254224

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Start time: 35:53

End time: 43:55

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What Social Media Apps Are The Most Popular amongst Teens?

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Ways to Stay Safe

  1. Settings → Set to Private, not Public
  2. Don’t share your location
  3. Wait until you get home from vacation to make posts
  4. Don’t open messages if you don’t know the sender
  5. Only accept friend requests/followers of people you know
  6. Trust your gut, if you’re talking to someone and you notice a red flag do the following:
    1. Tell a parent or guardian
    2. Report them
    3. Block them

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Questions

If you have any questions or need to talk with someone, please ask!

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