History

HistoryRecognizing a growing need, a small group came together in 1976 to establish “May Day Anonymous.” This dedicated group answered hotline calls from women who were victims of domestic violence in the area.

In 1978, the group was granted nonprofit status and evolved into Turning Point of Lehigh Valley. Since its incorporation, Turning Point of Lehigh Valley (TPLV) has helped more than 100,000 victims of domestic abuse.

History highlights:

  • The agency’s first emergency shelter opened in Bethlehem in 1980 with a capacity to house three families, and a new, larger shelter opened in Allentown the following year.
  • In 1983, Turning Point established a counseling and advocacy office in Easton, which remained open for the next six years.
  • In 1986, the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley began a project to establish a Northampton County shelter for Turning Point. That facility opened in 1989 with the capacity to house seven families.
  • In 1995, Turning Point received a gift of 2 buildings for the new Leigh County shelter and an Easton counseling and advocacy center. The new Lehigh County Shelter opened in 1996 and the former shelter in Allentown was converted to a counseling and advocacy office. A new Easton area counseling and advocacy center opened in 1999.
  • Turning Point began a formal community education program in 1998 and began a medical advocacy program in 1999.
  • The current administration and community education building at 444 E. Susquehanna St. in Allentown opened in 2003. The same year, the agency began offering counseling services in the Wind Gap area to reach victims in a rural area of Northampton County.
  • In 2005, the Outreach Department was established to coordinate the efforts of the community education, prevention, medical advocacy and volunteer programs
  • Turning Point’s Children’s Advocates developed innovative outlets for child victims to express their feelings, through play therapy, individual counseling, support groups, and specialty groups.
  • In 2014 Turning Point expanded its Rural Outreach program.
  • In 2014, The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) was one of 11 agencies chosen from throughout the country by Futures Without Violence to participate in Project Connect. Turning Point of Lehigh Valley was the only pilot agency selected by the PCADV to offer these services within our Safe House. Turning Point hired a nurse to work in the Safe House to provide wellness checks and vital prevention information.
  • In 2015, Turning Point established a collaborative relationship with the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, Allentown, and will be providing victim counseling to the Lehigh Valley LGBT community upon completion of the new center.
  • In April 2016, Turning Point's new counseling services opened in the new Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, downtown Allentown, to better serve LGBT victims of domestic violence.
  • In 2018, Turning Point of Lehigh Valley celebrates 40 years of service within Lehigh and Northampton Counties. In addition to their offices in the Allentown/Bethlehem area and the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, they have opened satellite counseling offices at Third Street Alliance for Women & Children, Slatington Borough Hall, and VAST. Furthermore, Turning Point of Lehigh Valley has offices within the Lehigh and Northampton County Courthouses which gives survivors and court advocates a safe space for counseling before and after PFA hearings.
  • In November 2019, Turning Point made a slight change in words to their mission statement and replaced domestic violence to domestic and intimate partner abuse.  It now reads - Our Mission is to eliminate domestic and intimate partner abuse in the Lehigh Valley through empowerment, education, and engagement."