There are some people who change your life simply because they existed.
For me, one of those people was Karolina.
Long before there was a vision for a Sexual Violence Advocacy and Resource Center, there was an incredible advocate who dedicated her life to survivors of sexual violence. Karolina was fierce, compassionate, and deeply committed to making sure survivors were treated with dignity, respect, and kindness. She started her work locally and eventually became a leader at the state coalition, always fighting to make systems better for the people who needed them most.
When cancer took her far too soon, the movement lost one of its brightest lights. I lost a friend.
I’ve often thought about what it would have been like if she were still here. Knowing Karolina, we probably would have been working side by side today. We’d be dreaming up new ideas, advocating for survivors, and laughing together in between the hard moments that this work inevitably brings.
While that future wasn’t meant to be, I wanted to make sure her legacy continued.
That is why we named our Sexual Violence Advocacy and Resource Center Karolina’s Place.
This is more than a name on a building or a website. It is a promise.
A promise that every survivor who walks through our doors will be met with compassion instead of judgment.
A promise that healing is possible.
A promise that no one has to navigate the aftermath of sexual violence alone.
As of April 1, 2026, The Peace of Mind Foundation became Union County’s designated provider of confidential sexual violence services. It is an incredible honor and a responsibility we do not take lightly. We know that reaching out after experiencing sexual violence can feel overwhelming, frightening, and sometimes impossible. Our goal is to make that first step feel just a little easier. If you are wondering what reaching out actually involves, we walk through what happens when you call.
At Karolina’s Place, survivors can access confidential, free services regardless of income, insurance, immigration status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We believe everyone deserves support.
Our services include:
- A 24-hour confidential sexual violence hotline
- Individual trauma-informed counseling
- Crisis intervention and emotional support
- Non-acute accompaniment to medical, legal, and court appointments
- Advocacy with law enforcement, prosecutors, and other systems when requested by the survivor
- Information about survivors’ rights and available resources
- Safety planning
- Trauma-informed support groups
- Referrals and connections to community resources
- Services provided in both English and Spanish
Most importantly, we believe survivors deserve choices.
Healing doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some people want counseling immediately. Others simply want information. Some want someone to sit quietly beside them during one of the hardest days of their lives. Some aren’t ready to talk until months—or even years—later.
Every response is valid.
Our role is never to tell survivors what they should do. Our role is to walk beside them, provide information, offer support, and help them make the decisions that feel right for them.
That philosophy reflects who Karolina was. She understood that advocacy wasn’t about taking control—it was about helping people reclaim it.
As we open Karolina’s Place, I feel both excitement and gratitude. Excitement for what we can build together as a community. Gratitude for every advocate who came before us, every survivor who trusted someone enough to share their story, and every partner throughout Union County who stands beside us in this work, including YWCA Union County and the hospitals and responders we work alongside.
Karolina’s legacy lives on every time a survivor is believed.
It lives on every time someone answers the hotline with compassion.
It lives on every time an advocate sits beside someone during a forensic exam.
It lives on every time someone discovers that healing is possible.
To our Union County community: thank you for welcoming us into this work. Whether you are a survivor, a loved one, a healthcare provider, educator, law enforcement officer, community partner, or someone who simply wants to learn more, we hope Karolina’s Place becomes a trusted resource for our entire county.
Karolina believed that one person could make a difference.
We believe that, too.
Welcome to Karolina’s Place. We are honored to be here, and we are ready to walk alongside every survivor who reaches out for support. You can reach us any hour at 908-233-7273, or contact us whenever you are ready. If you would like to be part of the work, our Get Involved page is where to start.