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Content Warning: This page discusses child sexual abuse and includes references and links to the experiences of survivors. Some readers may find this content distressing. Please consider your emotional well-being and do not read further or take breaks as needed. If you are a survivor and need support, resources are provided at the end of this page. 

 

You Are Not Alone 

 

For many survivors of child sexual abuse, one of the most painful burdens they carry is the belief that they are alone. 

 

They are not. 

 

Child sexual abuse is something we all wish was rare. Unfortunately, the reality is very different. Every year, countless children are sexually victimized by adults who groom, manipulate, deceive, or otherwise exploit them. Those who abuse children often work deliberately to gain the trust not only of the child, but also of the adults around them, including parents, relatives, foster families, caseworkers, teachers, coaches, volunteers, faith leaders, supervisors, and others who are expected to protect children. 

 

One reason this abuse remains hidden is that many survivors never disclose what happened to them until adulthood. Some may never disclose it at all. As a result, many people who survive child sexual abuse grow up believing their experience was uncommon, isolated, or somehow unique. It was not. 

 

The truth is that child sexual abuse affects people from every background, community, and walk of life. In recent decades, many well-known public figures have courageously shared their own experiences of childhood sexual abuse. Their stories span generations, professions, cultures, and life experiences. They include actors, musicians, athletes, authors, business leaders, and others whose lives were profoundly impacted by abuse they endured as children. 

 

By speaking publicly, these individuals have helped bring greater awareness to an issue that has too often remained hidden. More importantly, their stories serve as a reminder to survivors everywhere: you are not alone, and what happened to you was not your fault.

Well-Known Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse Who Have Publicly Shared Their Stories 

  • Oprah Winfrey - Media Executive, Television Host, Producer & Philanthropist 

The purpose of sharing their names and stories is not to focus on public figures. Rather, it is to highlight an important truth: 

 

You Are Not Alone. 

 

If child sexual abuse can happen to Olympic champions, Academy Award nominees, Grammy-winning musicians, internationally recognized authors, business leaders, and countless others, it can happen to anyone. Abuse does not occur because of weakness, poor judgment, or anything a child did wrong. Responsibility always rests with the person who perpetrated the sexual abuse. 

 

But there is reason for hope. 

 

For generations, society largely focused on responding to abuse after a child was harmed. Today, however, we have a much greater understanding of how abuse happens, along with more effective strategies for preventing child sexual abuse before it occurs. 

 

Research in child protection has shown that criminal background checks, while important, are not enough on their own. Most individuals who sexually abuse children have never been reported, arrested, charged, or convicted. As a result, background checks cannot identify most people who pose a sexual risk to children. Effective prevention requires multiple layers of protection working together. 

 

A comprehensive child protection strategy recognizes that no single tool can prevent abuse. Instead, effective safeguarding relies on multiple evidence-informed measures working together to strengthen child safety. 

 

That is why many organizations incorporate The Diana Screen® into their broader screening and prevention efforts. Developed to help identify applicants who present an elevated sexual risk to children through age 17, The Diana Screen® provides an additional layer of information beyond traditional background checks by identifying attitudes and patterns that otherwise go undetected. Used alongside other safeguarding measures, The Diana Screen® helps organizations make more informed selection decisions and strengthen their overall commitment to protecting children. 

 

A Future With Fewer Victims 

 

The significant number of survivors in our communities is a reminder that child sexual abuse is not a rare problem. It is also a reminder that we have a responsibility to do better moving forward. 

 

Today, organizations that serve children have access to prevention strategies that previous generations did not. Comprehensive child-protection policies, abuse-prevention training, vigilant supervision practices, and scientifically developed screening tools such as The Diana Screen® can all play an important role in reducing risk and strengthening child safety. 

 

At Abel Screening, we believe that every organization serving children should make child protection a top priority. Children deserve adults and institutions that are committed to using every reasonable safeguard available to keep them safe. 

 

We cannot change what happened to survivors in the past. 

 

But we can listen to them. 

 

We can believe them. 

 

We can learn from them. 

 

And we can use what we have learned to build safer systems, stronger organizations, and better protections for future generations of children. 

 

To every survivor reading this: 

 

You are not alone. 

What happened to you was not your fault. 

Your voice matters. 

Your life matters. 

And together, we can create a safer future for children. 

 

For organizations serving children, our message is equally clear: 

We can do more. 

We should do more. 

And together, we can create a safer future for children. 

 

Support for Survivors 

​

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline 

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) operates the nation's largest sexual assault support service. Support is available 24 hours a day by phone, online chat, or text. 

  • Call: 800-656-HOPE (4673) 

 

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline 

Childhelp provides confidential support, crisis intervention, information, and referrals for individuals concerned about child abuse or neglect. Services are available 24/7 via call, text, and chat.  

  • Call: 800-422-4453 

  • Text: GO to 800-422-4453 

 

If a Child Is in Immediate Danger 

Contact local law enforcement or 911 emergency services immediately. 

 

Healing Is Possible 

 

Many survivors find healing through: 

  • Trauma-informed counseling 

  • Survivor support groups 

  • Trusted family members and friends 

  • Faith communities 

  • Mental health professionals specializing in trauma recovery 

 

Seeking help is not a sign of weakness. It is a courageous step toward healing.

The Diana Screen   

The #1 Sexual Risk Screen to Protect Children and Communities 

®

Copyright © 2026 by Abel Screening, Inc.

Abel Screening, Inc.

1151 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 121 Alameda, CA 94502 

404-874-4772

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