The Union County Board of County Commissioners announced today that services at the Union County Rape Crisis Center (CRCC) will be transitioned at the end of calendar year 2025 to a new vendor contracted by the Department of Children and Families’ Division on Women. The transition will enable broader reach and enhanced supports for impacted residents, while ensuring high quality and effective counsel and coordination.
Services will continue at the CRCC’s current location in the Colleen Fraser Building at the Union County Complex in Westfield through December. The 24-hour hotline—908-233-RAPE (7273)—will remain active throughout the transition period.
“This transition reflects a shared commitment to strengthening and evolving how we support survivors in our community,” said Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “By working with the State, we are ensuring that these essential services not only continue without disruption, but do so under a model that is sustainable, responsive, and reflective of the changing needs of survivors and their families.”
Founded in 1984, the UCRCC has provided confidential, trauma-informed support to survivors of sexual violence across Union County. The Center offers a 24-hour hotline, in-person accompaniment during medical and legal proceedings, bilingual advocacy, and community education—all free of charge. It also leads countywide outreach during Sexual Assault Awareness Month and trains volunteers to become Certified Sexual Violence Advocates (CSVAs).
In 2024 alone, the UCRCC responded to more than 970 crisis calls, facilitated over 70 in-person accompaniments, and engaged hundreds of residents through awareness campaigns and prevention efforts.
“As Liaison to the Human Services Advisory Council, I’ve seen firsthand the impact this program has had on the lives of so many,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados. “This transition is about expanding that impact—ensuring that survivors will now be served by a provider with the capacity and focus to continue this work long into the future. It’s not just about preserving what exists, but improving access, deepening support, and continuing to fight for a world free from sexual violence.”
The County is working closely with the state Department of Children and Families’ Division on Women, which funds the services, to ensure a smooth and compassionate handoff to the incoming provider, which will carry forward the UCRCC’s legacy of advocacy and healing. Volunteer support services, bilingual access, and prevention education will remain core to the program.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners and the State of New Jersey remain united in their mission to support survivors of sexual violence with dignity, continuity, and care. For updates and information about services in 2026 and beyond, visit the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Division on Women: https://www.nj.gov/dcf/about/divisions/dow.
