ywrape crisis center


The YWCA of Bergen County Rape Crisis Center—the only one of its kind in the county—is a safe and welcoming place for survivors of sexual assault/abuse, their families and friends. Our 24/7 crisis intervention hotline provides free and confidential assistance and our advocates provided counseling and medical and legal accompaniments to dozens of survivors. The center also offers support groups, volunteer training, educational programs for schools and businesses, and sponsors activities to raise community awareness about sexual violence.

hotline 201-487-2227
The Rape Crisis Center provides a free and confidential 24-hour hotline to survivors of sexual abuse/assault, their family, and friends. Support is available to anyone who has experienced sexual abuse/assault, whether it happened hours or years ago.

services
Confidential sexual violence advocates are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide:
• Short-term crisis intervention counseling.
• Medical and legal accompaniments to hospital emergency rooms, medical clinics, police departments, law enforcement agencies and legal proceedings.
• Information about the importance of medical attention, reporting the crime, the legal process and sources of support for the survivor, family and friends.
• Referrals and community resources for survivors and family members seeking group counseling, long-term counseling, medical, legal and/or financial information.

support & education
therapy groups
The Rape Crisis Center sponsors therapist-facilitated groups for adult women survivors of sexual abuse/assault, survivors of child sexual abuse and significant others (i.e. family, friends of survivors).

community education/training
Our speakers’ bureau is available to address schools, professional and community groups on issues surrounding sexual abuse/assault. Training is available to professionals who deal with survivors of sexual violence in their jobs, and we offer a variety of brochures and booklets. To schedule a speaker call 201-881-1751.

if you are raped
• Get to a safe place.
• Call the YWCA of Bergen County Rape Crisis Center for support and information.
• Get immediate medical attention.
• Consider notifying the police. (If you plan to seek medical or legal assistance, do not bathe, shower, douche, change clothes, eat, drink, smoke or urinate.)

what is sexual assault?
sexual assault is:
• A violent crime. 87% of all rapists threaten the victim with violence or death and/or carry a weapon.
• The responsibility of the offender, not the victim. No person “asks for” or provokes sexual abuse by acting or dressing in a particular manner.
• Not an act of lust. The offender’s motive is not sexual gratification, but to control, humiliate and/or degrade a person.
• The most underreported crime. The FBI estimates that only 1 in 10 rapes are reported.

sexual assault can happen:
• At any time, night or day.
• Anywhere: at home, on a date, in a car or in a public place.
• To any person: regardless of sex, gender identity, age, race, sexual orientation, appearance, religion, occupation or educational level.

myths & facts about sexual assault
myth
Most sexual assaults are committed by strangers.
In reality, the majority of the time the offender is someone that the victim knows. Victims are usually coerced, manipulated, tricked or threatened by someone they are acquainted with. One study found that 84% of women who were raped knew their attacker and for 57% of those women, the offender was a first date or romantic acquaintance.

fact
Alcohol or drugs increase a person’s vulnerability to sexual assault.
Alcohol and drugs can increase anyone’s vulnerability. In one study, 75% of males and 55% of females were under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the rape occurred.

fact
The most common place for rape to occur is in the victim’s home.
The second most common place is the offender’s home, because the offender is usually someone the victim knows. Many people think that sexual assaults happen in dark, abandoned places, but the greatest risk lies where we feel the safest.

fact
Most of the time, rape is planned.
Rape is not an impulsive act. If it is a single offender, the rape is planned 60% of the time; gang attacks are planned 90% of the time.

myth
Rapists are deranged, psychopathic, under-educated men from poor backgrounds.
Rapists are found in all socioeconomic classes. Offenders can be anyone: doctors, lawyers, the homeless, blue-collar workers, classmates, co-workers, etc.

events
The YWCA Rape Crisis Center sponsors a number of special events throughout the year to help raise community awareness of sexual violence. These include:

Bergen County Clothesline Project: a powerful display of T-shirts, created by or on behalf of survivors, that bears witness to rape, sexual abuse, incest, child abuse, domestic violence and death as a result of violence. There are clotheslines for women, men and children.
For details about the 2009 Clothesline Project click here.

Denim Day: an annual observance held on April 28 dedicated to raising awareness and educating young women and men about sexual violence and consent. Click here for Denim Day 2010 info.

The Work of Healing: An Exhibit of Survivors’ Artwork & Poetry: an event featuring an art exhibit and poetry reading that seeks to acknowledge the pain of survivors of sexual victimization, celebrate their healing process and develop a sense of community among concerned individuals.
For info. about the 2010 Art & Poetry Exhibit click here.

volunteers

brochure translations
The following brochures are downloadable Adobe PDF files. If you need the free Adobe PDF reader, click here.

Spanish
Chinese
Korean

For information call 201-881-1700. To schedule a speaker call 201-881-1751.