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, race, religious affiliation, or gender.