As part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, NYC Health + Hospitals / Jacobi | North Central Bronx today announced the launch of its Rape Crisis Program, the first hospital-based Rape Crisis Program in the Bronx and one of only two such programs in the Bronx. Located at the North Central Bronx campus, the program will offer free and confidential support to survivors of sexual violence in the Bronx. Services include free individual and group counseling, in-person accompaniment to forensic and medical exams in the emergency department, and information and referrals regarding medical, legal, and prosecutorial systems. The program currently has eight active volunteer advocates providing support to sexual assault survivors at Jacobi and North Central Bronx, with plans to expand the volunteer pool through the upcoming training. In January, the Rape Crisis Program at North Central Bronx will begin offering a 40-hour training to members of the community who wish to become advocates for sexual assault survivors. The program can train up to 60 advocates per year, and people can sign up for the training here. Rape Crisis Counselor Tobie Buford talks about the program in a video available here. Survivors in the Bronx can speak to a counselor through a designated 24/7 hotline by calling 718-519-5722 to receive immediate support and information. The new Rape Crisis Program is supported by funding from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
According to the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence’s June 2025 Data Brief, the Bronx reported the highest rates of both rape and sex crime complaints in New York City. In addition, according to the Alliance Against Sexual Violence, as of 2024 there were only 11 advocates to serve the entire borough of the Bronx.
The new Rape Crisis Program builds on the extensive support that NYC Health + Hospitals provides for survivors of sexual assault. All 11 hospitals are New York State Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE)-Designated Hospitals, offering specially trained Sexual Assault Response Teams in their emergency departments. Sexual assault survivors receive care within one hour of their arrival. These teams not only attend to the patient’s physical and psychological needs, but also accurately document injuries and collect forensic evidence for their legal case. The new Rape Crisis Program is the second such program in the health care system, following one at NYC Health + Hospitals / Bellevue. Earlier this year, NYC Health + Hospitals / Kings County launched their Kings CARES program to support wraparound care for domestic violence survivors. NYC Health + Hospitals also offers two mental health clinics for domestic violence survivors, and it places social workers at several of the city’s domestic violence shelters as part of the city’s Domestic Violence Shelter Mental Health Initiative.
“The health and safety of survivors is often determined by their ability to find accessible, confidential, and compassionate care,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. “This program, the first hospital-based Rape Crisis Program in the Bronx, provides the types of high-quality, thoughtful services that survivors of sexual violence deserve. I want to thank NYC Health + Hospitals and our partners for establishing a vital resource to help survivors navigate the difficult healing process and installing a beacon for everyone seeking support in New York City.”
“Survivors of sexual violence deserve somewhere to turn—and a voice in what comes next,” said Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois. “The new Rape Crisis Program at North Central Bronx will connect survivors to free, confidential counseling and advocates who can stand beside them, explain their options, and support their decisions. This is an important investment in the Bronx and in a survivor-centered approach to safety that brings health care and advocacy together. I thank NYC Health + Hospitals, our state partners, and the dedicated advocates working to ensure survivors can get the support they deserve, close to home.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals is proud to expand our care for sexual assault survivors with the new Rape Crisis Program at North Central Bronx,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Survivors should know we can help them in their darkest hour with compassionate, trauma-informed care as they begin their path to healing. We are deeply grateful to Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark and our colleagues in sexual assault advocacy for supporting the opening of this new program.”
“Survivors of sexual violence deserve compassionate, confidential support at every step of their journey toward healing and recovery,” said Christopher Mastromano, Chief Executive Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals / Jacobi | North Central Bronx. “The launch of the Rape Crisis Program at North Central Bronx strengthens our ability to provide that support close to home, connecting survivors with trained professionals who can help them navigate the medical, emotional, and social challenges that can follow an experience of sexual violence. We are proud to expand this vital service in the Bronx and to ensure that survivors know they are not alone and that help is available when they need it.”
“The Rape Crisis Program is a continuation of the compassionate care that has always been extended to all victims of sexual violence at NYC Health + Hospitals / Jacobi | North Central Bronx,” said Marni Confino, LCSW-R, Director of Social Work at NYC Health + Hospitals/ Jacobi | North Central Bronx. “Having the Rape Crisis Program at North Central Bronx sends a message to the community that you have a place to come where you will feel safe, be believed and get wraparound help from healthcare professionals invested in your well-being.”
“The launch of the Rape Crisis Program represents an important step forward in ensuring that survivors of sexual violence have access to compassionate, trauma-informed care and support,” said Veronica Ades, MD, MPH, FACOG, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx. “As health care providers, our responsibility extends beyond treating the immediate physical effects of an assault. We must also create a safe environment where survivors are heard, respected and supported as they begin their healing journey. This program strengthens the continuum of care available to survivors and connects them with the resources and professional support they need, when they need it.”
“Congratulations to the incredible team at North Central Bronx on launching the borough’s first hospital-based Rape Crisis Program,” said Dr. Obianuju “Uju” Berry, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Maternal, Infant, and Domestic Violence Mental Health Services at NYC Health + Hospitals Office of Behavioral Health. “This vital program provides survivors of sexual violence with the safe, comprehensive, and confidential care they urgently need and builds on our commitment to integrating mental health services within domestic/gender-based services across the system. Through providing immediate, coordinated access via medical, forensic advocacy, and behavioral health services, NYC Health + Hospitals is ensuring survivors are provided with the necessary tools to achieve long-term healing and recovery.”
“Supporting victims and survivors means investing in the people and programs they can turn to when they need help,” said New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado. “DCJS is proud to support the new Rape Crisis Program at North Central Bronx, strengthening access to care and reinforcing a clear message: you deserve support, and you do not have to go through this alone.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals’ North Central Bronx is now home to the first accredited, hospital-based Rape Crisis Program in the Bronx,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark. “This is a milestone for our borough, and I could not be prouder of the work that will happen here. It is a vital point of support to survivors who may not be ready to report a sexual assault to the police or my Office’s Special Victims Division or Crime Victims Assistance Bureau. In a vulnerable moment, this program will offer a place of refuge, connecting survivors to free counseling, in-person assistance at appointments, and guidance to navigate the process ahead.”
“Underserved communities are disproportionately vulnerable to sexual violence, which is why creating the Rape Crisis Program at North Central Bronx is so critical,” said Saloni Sethi, commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV). “While the Bronx comprises about 16 percent of New York City’s population, it has the City’s highest rates of reported rape and sex crime complaints per 100,000 residents. Several Bronx precincts have also reported a high concentration of complaints, underscoring the need for specialized support. This program will help ensure survivors receive the compassionate mental health, forensic and medical care they deserve as they navigate the healing process. We are grateful to NYC Health + Hospitals and the survivor advocates who provide this support every day.”
“Where a survivor lives should never determine whether they can get help after sexual violence,” said Emily Miles, Executive Director of The Alliance Against Sexual Violence. “The new rape crisis program at North Central Bronx is an important investment in a borough where access to advocacy and support has been far too limited. Having an advocate beside you in the emergency room, someone who explains your options and respects your decisions, can make an enormous difference to the long-term well-being of a survivor. We welcome this expansion and look forward to building on it so every survivor in the Bronx has access to expert support, from the moment they seek help and for as long as they need it.”
“For the last 25 years, I have volunteered as a Rape Crisis Counselor at North Central Bronx,” said Rape Crisis Counselor Tobie Buford. “It is tough to tell strangers what happened to you. Being there to help someone go through it is so important. For me, it’s about helping people who lost control during that time and helping them gain it back.”
Learn more about Rape Crisis Programs designated by the New York State Department of Health here.
In addition to the services announced today, the NYC Family Justice Centers (FJCs), run by the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), provide free and confidential support for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, including sexual violence, human trafficking, stalking, and intimate partner violence. Available in all five boroughs (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm), FJCs offer one-stop access to coordinated services from city agencies, community organizations, legal providers, and District Attorney’s Offices in safe and welcoming environments. Survivors and their children can receive support regardless of language, income, gender identity, or immigration status. Interpretation services and accessibility accommodations are available.
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest provider of behavioral health in New York City. The system provides almost 60% of behavioral health services citywide serving over 78,000 patients annually across emergency, inpatient, and outpatient care.
About NYC Health + Hospitals / Jacobi | North Central Bronx
The Jacobi campus of NYC Health + Hospitals / Jacobi | North Central Bronx is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The facility has earned numerous Center of Excellence designations, accreditation, and recognition for its renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Center, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke Center, Snakebite Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, Bariatric Surgery Center, and Cancer Service. The facility also offers the region’s only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, allowing up to nine patients to dive together at one time. Jacobi’s Ambulatory Care Pavilion is a stunning complement to its inpatient acute care, allowing staff to provide patients with high-quality service in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information visit nychealthandhospitals.org/jacobi/.
TheNorth Central Bronx campus of NYC Health + Hospitals / Jacobi | North Central is a member facility of the NYC Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, North Central Bronx specializes in women’s and children’s services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. Its Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 1,000 babies into the world each year. North Central Bronx is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need. For more information, please visit nychealthandhospitals.org/north-central-bronx/.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible.
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