"It Took a Village" at Ventura Harbor Village!

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Honorable Mentions for Festival Help from Turning Point Board and Staff:

Jason (Exec Dir) + his wife for visiting and running TPF booth. Jenn (Growing Works program manager) for leading team to set up & run horticulture exhibit + Savina for helping all morning and afternoon with it. Bob Davis (BOD) for helping run TPF booth + break down of chairs & tables after. Bob’s wife Mary for her great ideas to have a “Mental Wellness Means to Me” wall for people to write and draw on + her “Free Hugs" at event. Dhruv Pandya (BOD) for helping run TPF booth + staying late to breakdown & load everything in U-haul after. Tyler (program manager of Oxnard Wellness Center) for leading art sessions to provide artwork for exhibit, running TPF booth, arriving at 6 am with his fiancé to set-up art exhibit and more. Jeramie (new program manager) from New Visions Center for help running TPF booth. Rena (contracts & grants manager) for visiting & participating in Yoga sessions. Amanda (HR) for being the top bidder on several artworks.

Thank you again to Rotary Ventura South for their hard work & dedication helping the community. This check for $54,000 was presented to Turning Point during the May Tower Club Rotary lunch meeting planned with County Board of Supervisors Chair, Matt LaVere, as speaker. This funding was raised during the record breaking Mardi-Gras Fundraiser event earlier this year.

Thank you to The Home Depot (Oxnard) managers Chad & Kristina for their generous donation! This Hampton Bay gazebo is being used at our Oak Place residential board & care in Camarillo. It provides a comfortable shaded space for client rehabilitative care and relaxation. In photo from right to left is Josh (Turning Point), Chad (Home Depot Manager), Jenn (Turning Point Growing Works), Jessica (Home Depot).

Did you know there is a mental wellness location open to the public that requires no referrals, payments or forms of insurance for entry! Meet Turning Point Foundation’s Program Manager (Tyler) from the The Wellness Center in Oxnard. Located on the C street side of Centerpoint Mall in Oxnard, 2697 Saviers Road. The Wellness Center is a peer support program staffed by Peer Support Specialists. The Wellness Center is now offering community outings, free lunch (to all members who attend services) and monthly social events (which include games and prizes). It also offers trilingual services (English, Spanish, Mixteco) and has began partnering with United Parents to host a monthly evening parent support group for Spanish/Mixteco speaking members of the community. Individuals who sign up for membership are entitled to all the services offered at The Wellness Center. The best way to support The Wellness Center is to refer over anyone who would benefit from the services offered. Click Here for more info!

Celebrating the the full funding of Growing Works Dramm Water System. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Program Manager Jenn, community donors and a matching private 15k donation this much needed system is now a reality! The water system includes reverse osmosis, water softening, particulate filtration and ozone treatment so that Growing Works can use treated gray water for irrigation. It also reduces 1000s of hours of hand watering over 1 acre of native plants. Growing Works is an innovative, wholesale plant nursery and mental wellness program with Turning Point Foundation. It provides job training, employment, volunteer opportunities & recovery services (in a horticultural environment) for people with mental health challenges. Since it’s inception in 2018, over 149 adults have participated in the Growing Works program. 30 have gone on to competitive employment, 10 have sought higher education & 5 have been hired by Turning Point Foundation. Growing Works also offers “retail days” twice a month, fun workshops and a Fall Festival coming on Oct 28th!

Click Here for more info!

Meet Turning Point’s Residential Care Facilities Program Manager Becky (LPT/MSW)! Becky manages Thompson Place Residential Care (Ventura). The remodeled and updated Thompson Place opened June 2021 and is providing fully supportive housing and dedicated care to 26 residents referred by Ventura County Behavioral Health. Becky also manages Oak Place Residential Care (Camarillo). Oak Place is a 36-bed assisted living community for seniors (59+) with mental illness living in the community. We have a 92% retention in both residential facilities (as we provide care and supervision for some intensive VCBH clients living in the community). Residents improvement (with care & supervision, medication support, and in-house mobile wellness peer support groups) enables them to get off conservatorships and become independent with a better quality of life. These programs are an Augmented Board and Care through VCBH contract. We have no direct admissions. VCBH serves as gatekeeper for these programs.

Also shining a spotlight on Turning Point's Clinical Director (Kalie) and new Rehabilitation Program Manager (Jeramie) of Ventura New Visions Center and Oxnard Clubhouse. Both rehabilitation centers offer members experiencing mental health challenges a place to learn symptom management skills, improve community & independent living skills, participate in productive & recreational activities and an opportunity to become integrated back into our community. Community integration & independent living skills include movie outings, bowling, holiday parties, gardening, grocery shopping, meal preparation, cleaning and tidying chores. Members are referred by Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH). We are happy to help connect those in need of mental health support with VCBH services. Programs run from 9 am - 2 pm (Mon - Fri). Group therapy sessions include: Schizophrenia Support Group, Self Esteem Group, Relaxation Group, Co-occurring Disorders Group, Symptom Management Group, Positive Thinking Group, Anxiety Reduction Group, Social Skills Group, Seeking Safety, Healthy Habits, LGBTQ+ Group, Men’s Group, Women’s Group, Get Active, Art Group and Poetry Group. New Visions Info | Oxnard Clubhouse Info

A great man, often behind the scenes, is Turning Point’s Joe D! Program Manager of Shelter and Housing Programs + Facilities Manager. Joe is responsible for all our current Housing Programs (Our Place Safe Haven Emergency Shelter, Stephenson’s Place Apartments, Wooley House Supported Housing Apartments, and Villa Calleguas Apartments). Joe is also the Facilities Manager responsible for coordination of repairs, housing inspections and audits for Turning Point Foundation's buildings & facilities.

Last but certainly not least, in this newsletter edition, is Veteran Housing Program Manager Angel (shown in photo with generous donor Clair Hope). Turning Point’s Veteran Housing Program provides transitional housing for Veterans (with a goal of obtaining permanent housing placement within six months). If the Veteran has not found housing within that time frame, an extension may be approved at the discretion of the V.A. and TPF Vince Street Veteran’s transitional housing staff. Displaced veterans complete a thorough intake assessment to identify their areas of strength, vulnerabilities, and needs. At the Vet house, veterans are given referrals to outside agencies & resources to focus on their needs, assistance with employment, completing housing applications, as well as direct case management services to support & assist them to achieve their goals, by building their self-esteem, finding permanent housing, and to thrive in their community. Often a Veteran will experience issues with alcohol or drug addiction. These Veterans are offered referral services to assist them in making better choices and getting their life back on track. In the past year, 18 veterans were able to move into permanent housing through outreach & collaboration with our VA partners. Click Here for more info!

We are actively accepting donations for our non-profit eBay store! Please email jcarsman@turningpointfoundation.org if you have something in mind that can help! A wonderful example was from Bob & Mary Braitman who donated a beautiful Class A Motor Home w/ Car that generated over $30K! We can also use adult size clothing, blankets, toiletries and hygiene products for our shelter and other housing program locations (such as Vince St. Vets).

We welcome your mailed or online donations! Our mailing address is PO Box 24397, Ventura CA 93002. Checks are made to Turning Point Foundation.

Lastly, stay tuned for a special invite announcement to our Holiday Fundraiser event. Like us on Facebook and/or Instagram if you are on social media. Stay subscribed to receive our emails and visit our website!