Our Mission & Values
Starting Point provides free and confidential services to victims of domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking. Our goal is to address and ultimately end the cycle of violence in our community while supporting victims and survivors with dignity and compassion.
We’re dedicated to:
- Ensuring quality services to victims and survivors, their children, and our community.
- Preventing future interpersonal violence;
- Promoting social change; and
- Encouraging accountability and education for perpetrators.
History
Starting Point was formed in 1981 by a small group of women who had experienced interpersonal violence and struggled to secure safety. They wanted nothing more than to make sure others did not struggle alone.
Our Team Values
We exemplify community. We network with partners to engage in a continuum of care for families who have experienced victimization. We celebrate our community and endeavor to engage with all our denizens, lifting voices and imagining a state where we are all free from domestic and sexual violence.
We work for change. We stand in solidarity with movements striving to end interpersonal violence. Grounded in the belief that people and communities can create a better world, we advocate for systems and conditions that uphold fairness and justice for all. Within our agency, we prioritize open and respectful communication, and we seek to reflect compassion and integrity in all that we do. We are committed to embodying the values we hope to see in the world.
We are innovative. Where others see a wall, we see a gate that needs oiling. We are creative problem solvers working at every level to empower survivors to swing open the gates so that all can graze upon the plenty that our community has to offer.
We are a team. Our ethics are grounded in respect and collaboration. Our work is guided by the experiences of survivors. We strive to create space for all voices to be heard. Together, we make a difference.