Media Contact: Lucie Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; lucie@eafocus.com; 248.925.6726; Denise Figurski, Turning Point; dfigurski@turningpointmacomb.org; (586) 463-4430, ext. 237

Mount Clemens, Mich. – October 3, 2023 – Turning Point, an agency whose mission is to empower domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking survivors through comprehensive services and resources, is observing October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The statistics are staggering; according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), one in four women and one in seven men have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Turning Point president and CEO, Sharman Davenport, PhD., notes that promoting the importance of services and education for domestic violence is a year-round effort.

“Our ultimate goal is to eradicate domestic violence, but we cannot do that without community support and civic partnerships. Everyone has the responsibility to speak up and speak out against domestic violence, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a great time to reinforce that message,” Davenport encouraged.

Turning Point provides a variety of services to survivors, family and friends of survivors, and is engaged in the communities it serves to get the word out about the prevalence of domestic violence. One key program that helps spread awareness of domestic violence is Turning Point’s Prevention Education Program. The Prevention Education Program provides trainings that work to create an open environment for students to learn about Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, and Human Trafficking, where they feel safe enough to ask questions about what they may be experiencing.

“Getting into the schools with our programming helps educate teens on how to detect and prevent domestic violence situations,” Davenport noted. “By sharing this information with our younger generations, we can help them recognize healthy, loving and consensual relationships versus those that cause physical or emotional harm.”

In the 2022/2023 school year, Turning Point Prevention Educators provided presentations on topics like healthy relationships and consent, sexual harassment and violence, and teen dating violence in 14 high schools and five middle schools across 13 school districts. The organization is currently taking presentation requests for the winter 2024 semester. To learn more about the services provided by Turning Point, or to request a training, visit www.turningpointmacomb.org.

About Turning Point 
Turning Point provides comprehensive, free, and confidential programs for domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking survivors, their loved ones, and the community. Services include a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, housing, trauma advocacy/counseling, personal protection order assistance, legal advocacy, forensic nurse exams, first response advocacy, prevention, and community education. Second Hand Rose, another Turning Point service, provides survivors with gently used items while providing an opportunity for the community to donate and shop. Serving Metro Detroit for more than 43 years, Turning Point has helped over 125,000 survivors. Visit www.turningpointmacomb.org for more information.

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