NYC Health + Hospitals North Central opens Bronx rape crisis unit

The New York City Health + Hospitals system now operates a second in-house rape crisis program, with the new unit based at the North Central Bronx campus.

The facility previously housed only one such program in the borough. A 2025 data brief from the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence identified the Bronx as having the highest rates of rape and sex crimes when adjusted for population. Manhattan, by contrast, currently hosts six hospital-based programs.

Until this launch, the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center was the sole other provider in the area. Both organizations have faced reduced federal funding through the state Office of Victim Services. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark noted that her office managed the only state-accredited center housed within a district attorney’s office for decades, until state Department of Health rules altered the requirements for such operations.

Christopher Mastromano, chief executive officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx, described the new initiative as a way to strengthen local support. “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,” Mastromano said.

The program offers free, confidential individual and group counseling. It also provides in-person accompaniment to emergency rooms for medical and forensic exams. Staff assist survivors with referrals to legal and prosecutorial systems.

Tobie Buford, a Rape Crisis Counselor with the program, described the demands of the role. “When I am on call, I might hear from the emergency department at 2 a.m., 3 a.m., or 4 a.m. in the morning to come in,” Buford said. “I help the survivor by being there for the exam, filling out forms, and offering moral support.”

The unit currently operates with eight volunteer advocates serving both the North Central and Jacobi campuses. The hospital plans to expand this pool through 40-hour training sessions scheduled for January. The system aims to train up to 60 people annually. All 11 hospitals in the NYC Health + Hospitals network maintain Sexual Assault Response Teams in their emergency departments, providing care within one hour of a survivor’s arrival.

Clark stated that the Bronx now receives a fairer share of resources. “Our survivors deserve access to compassionate and comprehensive support, regardless of where they live or where they are in their process of healing,” she said.