Sexual Assault Awareness Month

National Facts

• Nearly every minute, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Every nine minutes, that someone is a child. 

• 1 out of 6 American women has been the survivor of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime (14.8% completed, 2.8% attempted).

• About 3% of American men or 1 in 33 have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.

• From 2009-2013, Child Protective Services agencies substantiated, or found strong evidence to indicate that, 63,000 children a year were survivors of sexual abuse.

• A majority of child survivors are 12-17. Of survivors under the age of 18: 34% of survivors of sexual assault and rape are under age 12, and 66% of survivors of sexual assault and rape are age 12-17.

Source: https://www.rainn.org/statistics/scope-problem

Open Arms Facts

• Open Arms provided a total of 9,443 individual services in 2025.

• In 2025, Open Arms received 1,202 crisis calls on our 24-hour crisis hotline.

• 51 adults and 46 children were provided with safe housing at our emergency shelter last year.

• Served 259 individuals in our Rape Crisis Program through medical advocacy, legal advocacy, emergency shelter, individual and group support, mobile advocacy and our 24/7 crisis hotline.

• Open Arms provides 24/7 response to sexual assault in Hancock County. We are an active partner in our community’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). The SART ensures timely and comprehensive trauma informed response to survivors.

• Open Arms provides sexual violence education in our local schools and annually educate over 4,000 students.

Learn more about how many we served last year by clicking the button below.

“Open Arms has always been there for me. There has never been a moment I questioned if I had someone in my corner because someone from Open Arms has been there.”
– Survivor

Helpful Information

Open Arms provides support to survivors of sexual violence by providing 24/7 advocacy while receiving medical treatment, legal advocacy, emergency shelter, individual and group support, and a 24-hour crisis hotline. All services provided are free and confidential.

Call or text our 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 419-422-4766

What to Do If You’ve Been Sexually Assaulted 

• Ensure your safety first. Get to a safe place, call 911 or someone you trust. 

• Seek medical attention, even if you think you are not injured.

• Do not bathe, brush your teeth, or change your clothes. You will destroy evidence that will be necessary to press charges. 

• Report the incident, even if you choose not to press charges. 

• Remember, sexual assault is a criminal act! We are here to help survivors in their journey to recovery. 

Suggestions for Recovery

Seek out a support system. Share your feelings and your story as you feel comfortable. Know that it is okay to feel the way you do. Understand that healing takes time. Be patient and give yourself time that you need. 

What Can Friends and Family Do?

Be supportive, patient, and do not judge. Be reassuring that sexual assault is not the survivor’s fault. Make sure the survivor feels safe. Allow the survivor to re-establish control over his/her life. Listen, but do not push. Control your own feelings. This will allow you to focus on the survivor’s feelings. Get support for yourself. Open Arms advocates are available to meet with friends and family members.  

Additional Resources:

• Supporting A Loved One
• Disclosing Sexual Violence
• Understanding Trauma of Sexual Violence
• Forensic Exam Fact Sheet
• Responding to Responding to Disclosures of a Recent Incident of Sexual Violence

“The staff has been informative and really helped me be comfortable and safe through everything.”
– Survivor

How You Can Spread Awareness

We encourage community members to commit to learning more about sexual violence, advocating for
and supporting survivors now and in the future.

April 7th – Sexual Assault Awareness Day

• Wear Teal! Teal is the color for sexual assault prevention.
• Share Open Arms posts on social media @openarmsfindlay on Facebook & Instagram
• Check out all the programs and services we provide right here on our website

“Very kind, empathetic, supportive and available. My advocate was so accommodating and very knowledgeable.
Very thankful for Open Arms.”
– Survivor

Awareness Partners

This month we’ve partnered with local businesses to help raise awareness with table tent displays and informational cards to support
Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Thank you to the participating businesses for your partnership!