About Us
Our history
The Turning Point, Lincoln County’s Self-Help Center, is an agency whose overall mission is to reduce the incidence of family violence, sexual assault, incest, and child abuse.
Provide services to any victim of family violence, sexual assault, incest, and child abuse, including short-term crisis intervention, support, advocacy, shelter, and referral. To minimize the pain and trauma that result from family violence, sexual assault, incest, and child abuse. To provide preventative education programs in the schools and community. To increase the reporting of family violence, sexual assault, incest, and child abuse. The Turning Point began as the dream of four Kemmerer women. These women, all relatively new to the area, met in the fall of 1980 to discuss their personal concerns, frustrations, and experiences as women living in Southwestern Wyoming. What began as a support group quickly became a service group as these women discovered the reality of abuse directed against women and children in Lincoln County. These women decided to plan and develop a shelter and crisis intervention service for the battered and abused. The Turning Point has grown tremendously over the years. We currently have five staff persons and an active volunteer network. Our business office and shelter are located in Kemmerer with an outreach office in Star Valley.
On October 1, 2009 we opened a second shelter, located in Afton that was built with a Community Development Block Grant funds, Lincoln County funds and 100,000.00 in donation and fundraising dollars. Prevention is considered an important element in The Turning Point philosophy. We work hard to create community awareness of the reality of family violence, sexual assault, incest, and child abuse, and to teach alternatives to violent and aggressive behaviors. Clients, as always, remain to primary concern of the staff and volunteers.
We have established a network with other agencies to meet the needs of victim survivors. We at The Turning Point are all advocates of people, of children, adults, and the elderly. We work to create a community and a society where people can live with dignity and safety. The Turning Point does not discriminate against any individual or group based upon age
Our mission
The overall mission of this agency is to reduce the incidence of family violence, sexual assault, stalking, incest and child abuse in Lincoln County by providing comprehensive services and options to any victim, and by providing preventive education programs in the school, communities and other community agencies.
These services will be provided in a supportive, non-judgmental manner, stressing empowerment of the individual. This will enable victims the opportunity to make informed choices regarding their life situation and provide a more favorable environment in which victims may seek recovery.
Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence: Is the mistreatment of a man or women by his/ her intimate partner. It can be physical abuse, which may involve pushing, slapping, punching, kicking, using an object or weapon, or any other use of force that causes pain or injury. Abuse can also be emotional or psychological. Emotional abuse can include threats of harm to his/her partner, family members, friends, pets or possessions; deprivation of money; withholding affection; harassment at work or at home; insults or other verbal abuse; or any pattern of behavior that causes emotional pain.
Domestic Violence is one person exercising control over another in order to dominate and get their way. Here are some facts about domestic violence: • Every 15 seconds a woman is physically abused by her partner in the U.S. • Domestic Violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the U.S. • 85% of domestic violence victims are women. • One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. • Domestic Violence does not discriminate. It occurs across all sectors of society, in all social, economic, racial and religious backgrounds.
RED FLAGS :
- Pressures you to move fast in a relationship or pushes for immediate commitment.
- Has been abusive in past relationships. Believes in stereotyped gender roles and male supremacy, and is domineering.
- Is very jealous and possessive. Isolates you from your friends and family and may try to persuade you not to have a job.
- Has two sides to his or her personality—others see your partner as a good person, but behind closed doors, he or she is angry and aggressive toward you.
- Experiences most emotions in the form of anger and has difficulty conveying other emotions.
- Has a violent temper and quickly changing moods.
- Is cruel to animals or children and is insensitive to their suffering. Monitors your whereabouts, activities or spending.
- Does not listen to you when you say "no" or try to assert your boundaries.
Stalking
Stalking is a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Stalking can include:
- Repeated, unwanted, intrusive, and frightening communications from the perpetrator by phone, mail, and/or email.
- Repeatedly leaving or sending victim unwanted items, presents, or flowers.
- Following or lying in wait for the victim at places such as home, school, work, or recreation place. Making direct or indirect threats to harm the victim, the victim's children, relatives, friends, or pets.
- Damaging or threatening to damage the victim's property. Harassing victim through the internet.
- Posting information or spreading rumors about the victim on the internet, in a public place, or by word of mouth.
- Obtaining personal information about the victim by accessing public records, using internet search services, hiring private investigators, going through the victim's garbage, following the victim, contacting victim's friends, family work, or neighbors, etc.
Source: Stalking Resource Center, National Center for Victims of Crime
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. Even if the person was you date, boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or friend they still need your consent. You did not give consent if:
- You were pressured, intimidated or forced.Were incapacitated due to drugs or alcohol.
- Changed you mind about engaging in sexual activity.
Some forms of sexual assault are:
- Attempted Rape Fondling
- Unwanted touching penetration of the Victim's Body
- Forcing someone to perform sexual acts such as oral sex or penetrating the perpetrator's body.
Sexual assault does not always mean that there was physical violence. Perpetrators may use emotional coercion, psychical force or manipulation, threats etc.
Coercion is being pressured or forced to do a sexual activity that you did not want to do.
Some Forms of Coercion are:
- Use of Threats,Intimidation,Encouraging or forcing you to drink or do durgs
- Use or intimidation involving a weapon making you feel like you "Owe" them sex.
Recovering from sexual assault takes time and is different for everyone.
Services
How We Can Help
The Turning Point Provides Crisis Counseling and Support for Victims of:
Family Violence
Sexual Assault
Stalking
The Turning Point Offers 24 HR-Crisis Hotline Trained Volunteer Advocates. We Provide :
- Victim Support & Advocacy
- Court Advocacy
- Civil legal/Criminal Justice Advocacy
- Hospital Response
- Emergency Shelter
- Transportation
- Referrals
- Community Education
- Training Programs
- Support Groups
Volunteer
I've seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives~Tracy Chapman
Volunteers are the epicenter of Turning Point. Providing advocacy, support and a listening ear 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Prior experience is not required; the only prerequisites are compassion and a desire to make a difference. Volunteering starts with a free 40-hour training course, offered throughout the year at both our Star Valley and Kemmerer locations.
If Interested Call Us
Kemmerer: 307-877-6834
Star Valley: 307-885-9072
Shelter Wish List
We Appreciate All Donations. Below is a List of Our Current Needs
Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Dish Soap, Dishwasher Soap, Cleaning Supplies etc