Bridging the Gaps - Needs Assessment to Strengthen Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault - Infographic

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) was tasked with reaching out to the public to learn more about how they view and understand sexual assault services and resources available in the United States.
The needs assessment consisted of 645 completed responses collected from online research platforms and social media promotion.

The people who took the survey represented a mix of ages, genders, races, ethnicities, abilities, sexualities, and other backgrounds.
42% identified as survivors of sexual harm (259 people)
27% were actively supporting a survivor in their life (165 people)
22% identified as a part of the general public (134 people)
9% said they weren’t sure if they experienced sexual violence (54 people)

Key Takeaways:
52% of survivors felt their experience “wasn’t serious enough” to seek help; when specifically seeking support services, participants used search engines, social media, healthcare provider referrals, and recommendations from friends and family.
Of the people who said they were survivors of sexual harm, about two-thirds (64%) had reached out for professional support (such as legal, healthcare, or law enforcement).
Major barriers for survivors include stigma/shame (52%), fear of disclosure (51%), and cost concerns (46%).
Individual counseling/therapy is the most desired resource; 78% were likely/very likely to use it.
Online and virtual options are increasingly important, with 76% likely/very likely to use informational websites. Anonymity and 24/7 availability are top priorities for digital resources.

Survivors were more likely to know about local resources, with 26% very familiar compared to only 4% of the general public. Many people lack awareness: 17% of survivors and 35% of the general public said they didn’t know about any community resources.

FUNDER INFORMATION: This needs assessment was made possible by Grant Number 90EV0562 from the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services.

The needs assessment was conducted in 2025 by Dr. Laura Sinko and Kayleigh Izzo (IRB Protocol #32468) from the Phoenix Gender-Based Violence Lab at Temple University College of Public Health.