Special Edition E-News: Newly Released Helpline Report

Together We Can Prevent the Sexual Abuse of Children

Conversations in Prevention

Dear Partners in Prevention,

This is a special e-news edition to celebrate and share our recently published report, Stop It Now! Helpline: 23,000 hopeful conversations about child sexual abuse and prevention. This report features lessons learned, actionable insights and more from our Helpline over the last 24 years, with emphasis on insights from the last 5 years.

We have wanted to tell this story for quite a while, and we now are proudly able to share this with all of you. After all, this report is written for and about you, and every adult who wonders how he or she can help a child experience a healthy and safe childhood, free from sexual abuse. It is a tool to share the message that prevention is possible when we can talk about sexual abuse, and when we provide accurate information, compassionate and respectful support, and the tools and resources to help adults prepare to responsibly protect children.

The report shares not only data but the stories and insights that have resulted from the sheer presence of this unique and critical prevention resource. The data, combined with the personal voices and stories gathered from our confidential and anonymous Helpline users, demonstrates that our Helpline fills an essential need in child sexual abuse prevention – a safe place for adults to talk about and get help with extremely sensitive, difficult and often terrifying concerns. Also and equally important, it demonstrates that people will reach out for help, act preventatively and share their experiences when there is a place to go. As the report indicates, “When you build it, they will come.” This is primary for prevention – making sure that people have access to accurate information and help when they need it.

Download the full report

Download the executive summary

The analyzed data collected specifically over a 5-year, 3-month period also provide the basis for the study, “I Didn’t Know Where To Go”: An Examination of Stop It Now!’s Sexual Abuse Prevention Helpline, which was recently published in the Journal for Interpersonal Violence. Findings from this analysis provide insight and information about the most often non-reported, non-publicized sexual abuse situations, including with those individuals at risk to abuse and those who have abused, as well as their friends and families who are seeking support. We believe that these findings can help direct future prevention efforts, including reinforcement of the importance of confidential and accessible supports that focus on reducing the isolation and secrecy that create conditions which make children more vulnerable to abuse.

Click here to access the abstract for “I Didn’t Know Where To Go”: An Examination of Stop It Now!’s Sexual Abuse Prevention Helpline.

Both the study and report seek to play a role in shifting public perception and conversation about sexual abuse, most notably emphasizing prevention opportunities before harm has occurred and raising awareness about the myths that act as barriers to prevention. We are confident that this will contribute to the conversation of what can be done to prevent child sexual abuse – and even discussions affirming that we can indeed offer support and resources that will be utilized and appreciated; that will help adults take the important steps they need to for children’s safety.

We hope you enjoy this report and study and, as always, we’re grateful for your support of Stop It Now! and our Helpline. Please share these widely to spread the word that child sexual abuse prevention is possible!

With hope and peace,

Jenny

Quotes of the Month

"Thank you very much. I only have one regret and that is that I didn't know about this service sooner."

"I felt relieved that I had found an informative and very detailed site that did not need any signing up and passwords. The information was just there simply when I needed it most! Usually in the dark of night when your thoughts run riot with panic over what to do. They had words of wisdom."

"Just keep up this valuable work. It will help so many. Perhaps there are those in prison right now that things may have turned out differently if they had gotten advice such as this here and were able to turn away from harm."

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