Erin's Law
Erin's Law
VHCS is committed to helping students understand personal safety, healthy boundaries, trusted adults, and how to ask for help. Erin’s Law supports age-appropriate education related to child sexual abuse prevention and personal safety.
In 2016, the Alabama legislature passed Erin’s Law to increase awareness of child sexual abuse. The law is named in honor of Erin Merryn, an advocate who worked to educate and empower children to recognize and report sexual abuse. Erin’s Law requires training for all school faculty and staff and requires schools to provide an age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention curriculum.
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Vestavia Hills City Schools counselors will present Erin’s Law lessons each spring to students in 2nd grade, 4th grade, 7th grade, and Health classes at Vestavia Hills High School. Students participate in these lessons in their classrooms with their teachers present.
The lessons are designed to provide students with knowledge and skills they can use if they are ever affected by sexual abuse or find themselves in an uncomfortable or unsafe situation. Students learn how to identify trusted adults, understand personal safety, recognize healthy boundaries, and develop a plan for how to ask for help.
For middle and high school students, the lessons focus on empowering teenagers to recognize sexually abusive relationships and understand ways to seek help if needed. Topics such as healthy boundaries and limits, personal safety, bullying, and internet safety are also discussed with students in 7th grade and in high school Health classes.
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Erin’s Law lessons may include topics such as:
- Personal safety
- Healthy boundaries and limits
- Safe and unsafe situations
- Trusted adults
- How to ask for help
- How to report unsafe or uncomfortable situations
- Bullying prevention
- Internet safety
- Recognizing sexually abusive relationships, when age-appropriate
Lessons are presented in a developmentally appropriate way and are designed to support student safety and well-being.
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Families play an important role in helping children understand safety, boundaries, and trusted adults. Parents and guardians are encouraged to talk with their children about who they can go to for help, how to recognize unsafe situations, and how to speak up if something makes them uncomfortable.
A simple family conversation might include:
- “Who are trusted adults you can talk to at school?”
- “Who are trusted adults you can talk to outside of school?”
- “What should you do if something makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe?”
- “You can always tell me if something does not feel right.”
The goal is to help students know they are supported and that they can ask for help from trusted adults.
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VHCS provides information to families about Erin’s Law lessons and the opportunity to review curriculum materials. Families may also choose to opt their child out of these lessons according to district procedures.
If you have questions about Erin’s Law lessons, curriculum materials, or the opt-out process, please contact your child’s school counselor or school administrator.
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If your child shares a concern about safety, boundaries, abuse, or an uncomfortable situation, please take the concern seriously and reach out for support.
During school hours, contact your child’s school counselor or school administrator.
If there is immediate danger or a safety emergency, call 911.
You may also call VHCS Student Support Services at 205-402-5100 and ask to be connected with the appropriate support.