Turning Point lives up to its name

Substance abuse, mental health center gives annual report

Four years ago, Turning Point was a single person in a small office, hoping to make a difference in the lives of people suffering from addiction or mental illness. Last week, the organization proudly gave a report detailing its growth.

And it also shared its own turning point: a new 25,000-square foot treatment facility that is set to open this spring.

The future home of Turning Point

Dr. Matt Oliver, CEO of Turning Point, gave an annual report presentation to the Howard County Commissioners and Howard County Council last week to let them know how far the organization advanced in 2021. Howard County government has provided grant funding to the organization to help it grow.

“It’s kind of exciting being here,” said Oliver. “Turning Point didn’t exist prior to 2018. Over the past four years, we have been growing, maturing, and continuing to partner in order to meet community needs. We serve people with substance abuse challenges. We serve people with mental health challenges, and a lot of people with both. We serve adults, youth, and families.

“When we look at what we’ve been doing, we have put together a good-sized building that supports the continuum of care expansion in Howard County and surrounding counties. We continue to partner with our local community health centers in way that we extend that safety net.”