Turning Point receives institute grant

Within the next two weeks, Turning Point Domestic Violence Services will receive a much-needed financial boost through the federal American Rescue Plan.

One of three organizations in south central Indiana to receivesupplemental funding administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, (ICJI), Turning Point will receive an additional $40,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.

This money will be used for the purchasing of technology to provide remote services, testing kits and cleaning supplies, according to the institute. The money can also be used for other purposes such as emergency preparedness, safety planning, employee retention and hiring.

“The pandemic has changed how services are provided to victims,” said Kim Lambert, ICJI Victim Services Director. “Many organizations are now offering virtual care options on top of maintaining a certain base level of in-person support. This funding will help ensure a continuity of services by covering some of those pandemic-related expenses.”

Beside Bartholomew, Turning Point also serves Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Johnson and Shelby counties.

The supplemental funding announcement was made one week after the 911 Emergency Operations Center in Columbus confirmed the number of local cases of reported domestic violence and abuse investigations rose from 1,916 cases in 2020 to 2,132 last year. While that is an 11% increase, the actual number is likely higher due to the pandemic, county officials said.

But the negative impact the virus has had on domestic violence is evident all across the Hoosier state. From July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported 98 intimate partner violence-related deaths within the state – a 181% increase in lethality from the same period a year earlier.

Other south central Indiana organizations receiving the same type of grant as Turning Point include New Directions of Decatur County ($113,608) and the Jennings County Council on Domestic Violence ($25,246). In total, nearly $3.5 million in grants were awarded to 46 nonprofit organizations across Indiana.

Since need is exceeding capacity to house individuals at Turning Point’s emergency residential shelter and scattered housing locations, agency vice-president Carrie Kruse said that has left her organization no choice but to begin a diversion of their services.

That includes working with the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other partners to secure additional housing, as well as life-saving resources and support, for domestic violence survivors, Kruse said.

Turning Point has also reached out to the public for financial assistance to help them identify and work towards reasonable solutions as the demand for services continues to grow.

ICJI is the state planning agency for criminal justice, juvenile justice, traffic safety and victim services. The grants administered by the institute are being issued through the state’s Family Violence Prevention and Services Act.