Katie Niznik, Sexual Assault Director at Turningpoint, shared information about Turningpoint as an organization, and she talked more specifically about her role in the organization. Turningpoint is an organization that helps anyone in St. Croix and Pierce County, male or female, who is experiencing abuse. The organization's mission is to provide support and resources to achieve freedom from domestic and sexual violence.
Turningpoint began in 1978 as a Domestic Violence Research Project, and the shelter opened in 1980. The current shelter was built in 1989. It began receiving Sexual Assault Victim funding in 1995.
Katie described Turningpoint’s wide variety of services: a 24-hour crisis hotline, language services, transportation services, and food security help. They work on empowering people but they don’t tell them how to live their lives. Services are provided by a mix of staff and volunteers.
Turningpoint owns the Second Chances thrift store. Sales from Second Chances help to fund Turningpoint’s services.
Only 10% on the people Turningoint serves stay in their shelter. Living in the shelter is free. The shelter has single rooms and rooms for families. The rooms are full a majority of the time.
Katie reminded us that anyone can be an abuser. 78% of rapes are committed by someone the victim knows. 35% of all relationships are abusive in some way. The abuse can be physical, but it can also be emotional.
Myths about abuse include:
--Rapists don’t have control over their behavior
--Some men are violent and aggressive by nature
--An abuser is abusive all the time
--Abusers fit a specific mold
--Only strangers commit assault
--Only low-income people experience domestic abuse
--Domestic abuse only happens with straight people
About the Speaker: Katie Niznik is currently the Sexual Assault Director at Turningpoint. She started her journey there in 2010 as an intern from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She received a graduate degree in Counseling and Psychology from Saint Mary’s in 2015.