The Mission of Turning Point
To enhance the lives of individuals, families and friends living with cancer or other serious or chronic illness through innovative education and support services that complement medical care.
The Goals of Turning Point
- To provide a gathering place where people living with cancer and other serious or chronic illness can come together for innovative, skill-based education and support programs.
- To help individuals with illnesses and their families better manage the illness process, reduce symptoms and increase coping skills.
- To partner with the medical community and provide education through workshops, lectures and information relating to the different aspects of disease and treatment, complementary therapies and current disease-specific topics.
- To establish programs that help children deal with the illness of other family members. Activities such as art, music, relaxation and play therapy will be provided to assist in the development of coping skills and to help the children through the illness process. The Center will also establish working relationships with other children-centered organizations to provide these programs on site and in the community.
- To teach effective methods of establishing and maintaining a health-care team in order to ensure effective communication among team members, enhance the participant's sense of being actively involved in the decision-making process and address issues of advocacy and research.
- To establish links and co-sponsor programs with other illness-related organizations, hospitals, churches, synagogues, businesses, community organizations, and schools. Turning Point will become a leading support community and resource center for the Kansas City area by providing support, education, and information so that the medical community can refer patients knowing that the services offered are an important adjunct to their regular medical treatment.
- To conduct research, both independently and collaboratively, by regularly assessing and studying the effects and benefits of programs and complementary treatments on health and well being, and disseminate these results through publication in scholarly journals, lectures, and workshops for health-care professionals. In addition, the center will establish a working relationship with area educational institutions and work closely with faculty and students.
- To provide training for the community and for other health professionals and to create a model that can be replicated in other areas of the country.
