Our History
45 YEARS OF SHELTER
Columbus Regional Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence, Inc. (d.b.a., Turning Point Domestic Violence Services) has been providing victim services since 1975. Raised in Columbus, Indiana, sisters Rickie and Barbara Steeb founded the Columbus Regional Women's Shelter, Indiana's second women's shelter. Services began as the Columbus Women's Center and provided shelter for victims of domestic violence in Columbus, Indiana at the local Woodlawn Motel. On August 6, 1980, the Columbus Regional Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence, Inc. (d.b.a. Turning Point Domestic Violence Services) was incorporated. The 25-bed Emergency Shelter now serves a seven-county area including Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, and Shelby counties.
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Timeline
1975
Through the efforts of activist sisters Rickie and Barbara Steeb, Turning Point began services in 1975 as the Columbus Women's Center and provided shelter for victims of domestic violence in Columbus, Indiana at the local Woodlawn Motel
1980
On August 6, 1980, the Columbus Regional Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence, Inc. (d.b.a. Turning Point Domestic Violence Services) was formally incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit entity.
1986
In 1986, a toll-free, 24-hour Helpline was established allowing victims of interpersonal violence to access services without jeopardizing their identity or incurring charges on their phone bill. Also in 1986, Turning Point expanded services to specifically address sexual assault.
1998
From 1998-2003 Non-Residential Offices were established in Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, & Shelby counties to reach additional clients.
2000
In 2000, the first Dance Marathon, Turning Point’s flagship teen prevention education/fundraising event, was held.
2002
In 2002, Turning Point added an in-house Emergency Residential Shelter Case Manager position to allow for longer-term case management, more substantial client assessments, and dedicated supportive services.
2003
By 2003, Turning Point began offering trainings to professionals in the communities the Agency served such as law enforcement officials, healthcare workers and social service workers.
2005
In 2005, Turning Point expanded its focus to evidence-based primary prevention services with both adults and youth.
2007
Continued program growth in 2007 allowed the Agency to establish a Latina Victim Services Coordinator role to serve the growing number of Hispanic clients in its service region.
2008
From 2008-2015 Turning Point benefitted from the addition of a Ph.D.-level VP of Prevention and Training. During this same timeframe, legal advocacy services, professional assessment tools, child-focused residential services, academic tutoring, and substance & alcohol abuse education were all added to further meet the needs of Turning Point’s clients and their dependents.
2009
In 2009, Turning Point administrative offices were moved to the Bartholomew County United Way Building, allowing for the establishment of a 2-apartment Transitional Housing Unit to provide clients and their dependents with affordable long-term housing (up to 24 months) coupled with continued case management services.
2011
In 2011, the Agency began expanding its prevention efforts to include more Teen-Initiated Activities, including the creation of the Bartholomew County Teens for Change advocacy group. In 2014, Jackson County began its Teens for Change programming as well.
2012
2012 brought the approach of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) to Turning Point’s work. (TIC is a strengths-based framework grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma, that emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both providers and survivors)
2014
2014 also saw the launch of Men’s Engagement programming as Turning Point assumed responsibility for Bartholomew County’s annual Men Take A Stand event from the Domestic Violence Action Team (DVAT).
2015
In 2015, the mission statement was updated to reflect the Agency’s work regarding dating violence and prevention services. 2015 also brought the advent of three county-level Community Coalitions that bring key community stakeholders together to encourage successful programming partnerships and to support the work of local Turning Point staff in their respective county offices. The Agency was also notified of its first federal funding for youth-focused direct services and prevention efforts with children, youth and young adults in Bartholomew County.
2016
By 2016, Primary Prevention programming had expanded to the counties with Non-Residential Offices.
2017
In 2017, the Director of Outreach and Comprehensive Advocacy position was established to create a truly comprehensive internal and community-wide approach to addressing the far-reaching consequences of interpersonal violence. This effort included the integration of purposeful and targeted cross-training and programming with outreach, prevention, intervention and training. In 2017 Turning Point was awarded its second federal grant to significantly expand its Transitional Housing Programming.
2018
In 2018, the Agency borrowed a model from recent Dance Marathons to create the Mobile Prevention Lounge to host activities with community partners including Family Game Night, a successful program created to encourage healthy family relationships through board games. In 2018 the first 100Men+Friends Move to End Violence campaign was held as a fundraising venture to support Men’s Engagement programming.
2019
In 2019, Turning Point celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Dance Marathon with 698 attendees, hours of prevention programming, and over 620 items from the Agency needs list gathered. Also in 2019, Turning Point acquired MOBY, a customized van use to mobilize prevention programming and outreach to remote service areas. 2019 saw significant expansion of Legal Services including a fully funded in-house civil attorney. The 2019 Strategic Plan influenced the adoption of a revised Vision (a world free from violence) and Key Values (Change, Equity, Integrity, Relationships, Respect, and Safety) for the Agency.
2020
2020 showed growth of programming through the expansion of staffing in shelter and the creation of a Marketing and Communications position. The 2020 pandemic encouraged the quick and successful transition/reimagining of all service provision areas to include virtual services as well as a renewed emphasis on inclusion and equity
