‘There is hope’: Survivor who inspired Jenna’s Law a step closer to passing federal legislation to protect children

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Since 2009, a law mandating K-12 sexual abuse prevention training has been in place in Texas. It was the first child sexual abuse prevention law to pass in the nation and is named after a survivor from the Dallas area.

Jenna Quinn survived the horrors of abuse as a child and is now one step closer to her law passing on a federal level.

“I understand what it’s like to suffer in silence,” Quinn said. “I understand what it’s like to wear the shackles of shame and I understand what it’s like to struggle.”

For years, Quinn said she did not disclose her abuse. She finally came forward when she was 16 years old.

“At that point, I was in bondage you know…my bags were packed for a mental hospital and I had depression and anxiety…suicidal ideation,” Quinn said.”I really suffered from the effects of child sexual abuse but I do have to say it doesn’t end there.”

Quinn made sure her story did not end there.

She knows first-hand how crucial services are at advocacy centers across the U.S. because she walked into one as a teenager.

She fought to pass Jenna’s Law in Texas in 2009. The law mandates training in public schools, charter schools and daycare facilities on the signs and symptoms of all forms of child abuse.

15 years later, more than half of states have similar legislation, and it could soon become a federal mandate that is funded by grants.

On February 9, 2024, the Jenna Quinn Law passed unanimously in the U.S. Senate. It now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives.

“It’s really quite surreal and ya know for me, it’s less about me and it’s more for what this means for other survivors,” Quinn said in response to the latest developments.

Dr. Kerry Burkley, with Advocacy Center in Waco, said this news could not come at a better time. “We’re seeing an increase in cases already and we’re halfway through the month of February,” Dr. Burkley said.

In fact, his facility reported a 41 percent increase in cases if you look at the numbers of February of 2023 and February of 2024. The Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas in Belton reported a statewide 14 percent increase in cases from February of 2023 to February of 2024.

Child advocates say they cannot necessarily pinpoint one reason why they are seeing more cases, but Dr. Burkley says he did see an uptick in reports after families were isolated for months in 2020.

“Coming out of that pandemic, we had a bump in numbers of children who did report once they got to a safe place,” Dr. Burkley said.

That safe place is often school. That is why Quinn feels the training her law provides on campuses for educators and students is crucial.

“The young kids, we talk about their bathing suit area and we talk about who is a safe adult. If you do find yourself in a situation, will you be able to identify a safe adult that you need to tell?” Quinn asked.

She said prevention education is working and that educators are four times more likely to report abuse after going through Jenna’s Law training. Quinn also says student reporting goes up after training because the children finally have an opportunity to talk in a safe place.

She said 90 percent of the time a child is sexually abused or sexually groomed, it is by someone they know. While many child advocates have called Jenna’s Law a no-brainer in protecting children, Dr. Burkley says some parents may be uncomfortable with the training and they have options.

“You have parents who can sign out/opt out you know,” Dr. Burkley said. “That’s their right and that’s what we’re seeing with a parents rights movement going on.”

Quinn hopes the passage of her law on a federal level will set a standard of care for children in the U.S. and she will continue to share her story to bring other survivors out of the dark.

”This is not something that has to define you,” she said. “There is hope. There is freedom and you can live a beautiful life. I’m a mom now. I’ve been happily married for a decade now and it does get better. I would encourage you not to lose hope but just to hang on because it does get better.”

Quinn’s book “Pure in Heart” is written for survivors and also includes education tools for teachers, parents and caregivers.