Turning Point tops first year goals
Mental health, substance abuse recovery provider creates support system
This article is brought to you by Freedom Financial.
A year ago, the largest meeting room in the newly opened Turning Point System of Care was filled with staff, clients, public officials, and community members. All of them were happily celebrating the new facility and talking about what the future held.
A year later, Turning Point has hit its goals and then exceeded them. From short-term care and emergency drop-in services, the organization aggressively constructed a support system unmatched anywhere in the state. A person seeking to recover from addiction now has a remarkable chance at success.
“From where we were a year ago to where we are today is simply amazing,” said Michelle Russell, Turning Point’s director of nursing. “We have adapted and grown and given to the community what it needs. While we started out as a stabilization unit, now we have an extended stay program. We are going to continue to grow to meet the needs of our patients and our clients and the community.”
According to Turning Point CEO Dr. Matt Oliver, the organization has evolved well beyond the vision he and the other organizers had for it. Initially, the new facility at 1234 N. Courtland Ave. was just handling stabilization; giving those in crisis a place to go other than jail as their mental health issue or substance abuse incident runs its course.
“We wanted them to have a supportive space to get into early recovery,” said Oliver. “When we launched the unit, we had the Bridge Clinic for medications. But since we've evolved, we've done much more integration with Recovery Cafe. People are able to come off the unit and participate in other kinds of support.”
Oliver explained that this transition allows Turning Point staff to establish relationships with those in recovery. The two to four weeks a person spends at Turning Point in initial recovery might help their bodies heal, but the support network that follows is making recovery stick.
“We make sure that people care about you,” said Oliver. “They know exactly where to go and who they're connecting with. It helps make sure people aren't trying to recover on their own.”
It also helps that many of the Turning Point staff are in recovery themselves. Oliver explained that having someone who knows what it means to have an addiction makes connecting and supporting easier.
“It gives people a sense of not being judged by people who have no idea what it's like to struggle with some sort of substance use issue,” said Oliver. “We make it a point to be welcoming and let people know we're happy they're here.”
Over the past year, the enhanced recovery and support services have made a difference. Turning Point tracks those who return for recovery services within 30 days of being previously discharged. Oliver said they average about two a month. Immediate relapse is being avoided, and more people are engaging with the support services.
But it took re-examining how Turning Point connects with its clients. According to Tara McConnell, a therapist with Turning Point, things worked well during stabilization, and clients were told about the resources available to them after discharge. But they weren’t coming back for support.
“We were giving people the resources,” said McConnell. “We have recovery meetings. We have Recovery Cafe. But they weren't coming back. So, we decided we need to connect them before they leave. Once they were medically stabilized. We started allowing folks to come to recovery meetings and to Recovery Cafe.
“It has been amazing watching these relationships start forming. They're coming back day after day. It's really turned into something pretty awesome.”
“When people leave the unit and are connected with us through Recovery Cafe, or through rap groups, or more formal IOP treatments, that gives you a lot of structure,” added Oliver. “It helps people feel more comfortable. They're starting to change their people, places, and things.
“We want you to build a recovery community because those cravings will come back. All the things that keep you in addiction are still going be there until you change things. We want to give them the opportunity to grow.”
Turning Point has turned its attention to further strengthening its support system. It is developing life readiness programming and is partnering with education providers to connect people in recovery with training and certifications. For instance, Turning Point recently welcomed Indiana Wesleyan University’s Mobile Career Lab to Kokomo for career assessments and guidance.
“It's important to get people talking about their interests, and then about opportunities,” said Oliver. “Maybe they didn't really think they could become a welder, or an IT technician, or an electrician. They could, and there is a path forward that can help pay for it.
“Then, they’ll be able to care for themselves and their families much better than if they were working in fast food. It's helping people grow. If people are growing, they feel much better about themselves. They have a reason to care, and that helps them engage in recovery.”
Unfortunately, Turning Point cannot offer everything a person in recovery needs. It cannot constantly stay on top of those in need of mental health treatment. The spectrum of support is just too wide. But there is one problem Oliver would love to address.
“The biggest issue we see is housing,” said Oliver. “It is becoming more expensive. Sober living becomes important, which isn't just a place to lay your head. It's also about life readiness, developing skills, living on a budget, finding a job or working with partners to help enhance workforce development.
“We’re looking at capital we could use to make housing more affordable and recovery-supported. You can provide subsidy-related housing, but if it's not really focused on recovery, it doesn't necessarily help people. Sober living or recovery housing is focused on programming that helps people learn the skills they need for coping and growth.”
Oliver said Turning Point is working with local government to find grant money to fund the supportive housing project. And there are several businesses, organizations, and individuals in the community who donate to them. They’ve even received United Way funding in the past. But for now, housing sits firmly in the future.
Instead, the immediate focus is on strengthening the services Turning Point currently provides. The relationships between law enforcement, the hospitals, and the unit are making coordinated care more effective.
“We don't just see people who need help getting through withdrawal or getting into recovery,” said Oliver. “We see people with diabetes, with extreme high blood pressure, with wound care issues. We see a whole lot of medical issues. That's why we have to have nurses here, and we have to work well with our partners in law enforcement and at the hospitals.
“Other than an emergency room, there's no place that has 24/7 walk-ins. We do that. It doesn't exist anywhere in Indiana other than here. We appreciate our partners because we could not do it without them. We communicate well, and it makes a difference for our community.”
Communication is what will propel Turning Point through its next year. Oliver knows the services they provide aren’t reaching everyone after just one year in a new building. People searching for recovery need to know about Turning Point.
“Sometimes you feel like you're isolated,” said Oliver. “You don't realize help is immediately available. Give us a call, 24/7. We'll get you guided to whatever makes sense. There's no real wrong door. It doesn't matter if you have insurance. We'll get you routed to the right place that works for you.
“If you have commercial insurance or Medicare, we have an extensive network. If you need help getting onto Medicaid or the Healthy Indiana Plan, we can help with that.”
Turning Point System of Care is located at 1234 N. Courtland Ave. It is open 24/7 for walk-ins and intakes. Those seeking support or information can call 765-860-8365 or visit www.turningpointsoc.org.