How you help move victims of violence from crisis to confidence	Fall 2008

Hope Shining Across the Nation Research and Reporting

Key Findings from the Bystanders and Child Abuse Survey

Hope Shining Across the Nation Nationwide Launch Raising Awareness Research and Reporting An Alliance of Partners

A survey of over 500 Americans revealed that:

• 59% personally know someone who has been a child abuse victim

• 21% say they were abused as a child

• When they suspected child abuse, only 6% of Americans said they contacted authorities, 6% contacted the police, and 19% contacted child protection services

• Less than 14% of Americans cited “neglect” as an example of abuse, though it is the most common form

• Half of Americans (50%) incorrectly believe that physical evidence of abuse can be found in the majority of cases.

• 46% incorrectly believe that children reported to the state child protection authorities are automatically taken away from their families

• 38% do not know that child abuse can be reported anonymously

Do your part to stop child abuse. Visit www.hopeshining.org/signs to learn the signs of abuse and to find out how you can report suspected abuse.