• About:

  
  

  Turning Point for Women and Families is an innovative grassroots organization addressing the needs of a vulnerable and underserved population—Muslim women and children—especially in the area of domestic violence. Turning Point’s culturally sensitive services include crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, advocacy, outreach, education and training. It was the first and remains the only nonprofit in NYC working against domestic violence and for the empowerment of women and girls in New York’s Muslim community.

  Turning Point has reached over 750 women and girls from 31 countries, many of whom are immigrants with limited English skills.  It has educated thousands more by distributing multilingual flyers and facilitating workshops at mosques, Islamic centers, schools and community organizations. Its Youth Program offers young people leadership training and a supportive peer network to help build self-confidence.

  Nominator Patricia Joyce of Adelphi’s School of Social Work noted that, “Domestic violence is known to have long-lasting and serious implications for physical and psychological well-being… and Turning Point’s community-based efforts to prevent violence and mitigate its effects have made significant contributions to improved public health for Muslim women.”

  Turning Point’s positive impact is impressive, as demonstrated by client progress last year: 56% took concrete steps to ensure their own and their children’s safety; 22% enrolled in English as a Second Language or other educational training programs; 40% left their abuser; and 38% secured employment.

  For its groundbreaking work serving as a bridge between women and children in crisis and the services that can empower them, Turning Point for Women and Families received the third annual Joan H. Tisch Community Health Prize.

• Website:   Turning Point for Women and Families
• Prize Awarded:  2013
  

Promotional video