Turning Points
Turning Points provides, facilitates, and coordinates services to prevent and reduce homelessness in Manatee County through several programs. These services are designed to assist individuals and families on their path to financial stability and independence. Over 9,100 men, women, and children received services this past year. These are our neighbors, who are part of families or are veterans, the elderly, or the disabled.
We are so grateful for the longtime support of The Bishop Parker Foundation. Here are two programs that their support has funded in 2022 –
Quality Medical Care
We believe that access to free medical care is a fundamental human right. Turning Points medical staff and volunteers provide high-quality coordinated care at our Health Center.
Empowering people to manage their chronic illnesses has a far-reaching impact. The result is improved physical health as well as better mental health, increased life expectancy, the ability to maintain employment, reduced medical costs, and increased quality of life.
Turning Points free clinic provided nearly $1 million in free prescription assistance this past year. That is just one of the services the onsite clinic uses to manage chronic illnesses.
Client Readiness
4,317 men and women received critical needs services at our Day Resource Center. These services were provided with compassion and helped to restore dignity and self-esteem to our clients.
Clients in this program receive clothes, shoes, access to hot showers, laundry services, mailroom services, access to computers and phones, employment opportunities, and job training. Our volunteer barbers and stylists even completed over 1,000 haircuts!
Clients have the option to enroll in the Client Readiness Project and go through training classes to learn about job readiness and housing readiness. They graduate with the tools needed to succeed and thrive.
Dental Clinic
The negative impacts of poor dental health go well beyond just having bad teeth, they also affect overall health, employment, medical costs, quality of life, relationships and well-being.
We proudly provided 835 of our neighbors with free dental care at Turning Points this past year including 126 Project Smile participants who received partial or full dentures.
98% of Project Smile patients reported improved quality of life! We love the countless stories of how a new smile has resulted in new jobs and promotions, new confidence, improved relationships, and an enhanced outlook on life.
