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Executive Summary
Turning Point Treatment Center is a licensed nonprofit treatment program in our county and the two neighboring counties that helps people with mental health and substance use problems get better. We provide outpatient counseling and group therapy for mental health and substance use, on a sliding scale, delivered by licensed clinicians, with fees based on what people can pay.
Many people need treatment and cannot get it. Programs have long waiting lists, many do not take Medicaid or people without insurance, and some are far away. Waiting can be dangerous. Our program offers timely, respectful, evidence-based treatment close to home, and works with each person on a plan for recovery and a stable life.
In Year 1 we plan to serve about 120 people over the year. Our Year 1 budget is about $158,000, growing to about $438,000 by Year 5 as we grow from one licensed therapist to six. Each year's budget is planned to balance, with a small amount set aside in savings.
We are asking the Lakeshore Community Trust for $75,000, as part of the $128,000 in grants and contracts we need for Year 1. The other $30,000 in Year 1 comes from insurance billing, which we plan to grow to about $108,000 a year by Year 5. Grant money pays for licensed therapists, the licensing and compliance work treatment programs require, and the record-keeping funders require. A smaller share of our income comes from insurance billing once we are approved to bill.
We will measure how many people we serve, how long people wait for a first appointment, how many stay in treatment, how many complete their plan, and how people feel and function before and after, using standard clinical questionnaires. We will report results to our funders every six months.
Company Description
Turning Point Treatment Center is a nonprofit organization in Wisconsin. A 501(c)(3) public charity
Our mission. To provide caring, effective treatment for mental health and substance use problems to everyone who needs it.
How we started and what we have done. We began in 2023 when two licensed counselors started a sliding-scale evening group at a clinic. Since then we have seen about 60 clients, with six volunteers helping with outreach.
What we do:
- Provide outpatient counseling and group therapy for mental health and substance use problems, by licensed clinicians.
- Offer a short wait for a first appointment, and a plan for people in crisis.
- Create a written treatment plan with each person, and review it regularly.
- Work with a physician partner for any care that involves medication.
- Connect people to housing, work, peer support and other services that help recovery last.
Where we work. A licensed clinic suite, Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Our partners. A physician who consults on medication, the county hospital's emergency department, drug court and two churches.
Our approach. We treat the whole person. We use methods with strong evidence, respect each person's choices and culture, and welcome people at any stage of readiness for change.
How we are run. A volunteer Board of Directors (a small group of community members who oversee the organization) meets regularly, approves the budget, reviews the finances and oversees the Executive Director.
Problem & Opportunity
Why this program is needed.
Many people in our county and the two neighboring counties struggle with mental health and substance use problems, often both at the same time. Treatment can work, but waits for appointments can be weeks or months, and many programs cannot take people who have Medicaid or no insurance. People who cannot get help may end up in the emergency room, in jail or worse.
Facts about our community. According to our state health department, overdose deaths in our county remain a serious and ongoing concern.
Gaps in the help that exists now:
1. Waiting lists. Many programs have long waits, and the best time to start treatment is when someone is ready.
2. Insurance and cost. Many programs do not accept Medicaid, or charge fees that people cannot pay.
3. Both problems at once. Many people have mental health and substance use problems together, and need programs that treat both.
4. Distance. Programs are often far away, with no transportation.
5. Aftercare. Many people leave treatment with no plan or support.
What we have seen ourselves. Many people told us they called several programs and were told the wait was more than a month.
Who we serve first. People with mental health and substance use problems who have limited income or no insurance, and people leaving jail, the hospital or another program, in adults with limited income and no insurance, and people recently discharged from the hospital or jail.
Products & Services
How the program works.
1. Licensed outpatient treatment. Individual and group therapy by licensed clinicians, in a program licensed by our state.
2. A plan made together. Each person works with a therapist on a written plan with goals, which is reviewed regularly.
3. Care that fits together. Where medication is part of care, a physician partner provides it. We coordinate with primary care and other providers, with permission.
4. Support for recovery. We help people connect to housing, work, peer recovery support and other services.
5. Fees people can pay. A sliding scale based on income, so no one is turned away for inability to pay. About $14,000 in Year 1 pays for licensing, accreditation and compliance.
How we will measure results. We track wait times, attendance, completion of treatment and standard questionnaires (such as the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 for mood and anxiety) at set times. We report results as totals, and we are careful to say that every person's path is different. Our goals for Year 1: serve 120 people; offer a first appointment within two weeks for 85%; have 60% complete their treatment plan; and have 60% show improvement on a standard questionnaire.
Market Analysis
Where we work and who we serve.
We serve people in our county and the two neighboring counties, especially adults with limited income and no insurance, and people recently discharged from the hospital or jail.
How we know people need this. Our evening group had 12 spots and a waiting list of 35, and the emergency department refers patients to us each week.
How many we will reach. In Year 1, about 120 people over the year. Local overdose and mental health data, waiting times at existing programs and the number of people without insurance are common ways to size the need, and the guide for this plan shows where to find them. As we grow from one licensed therapist to six, we expect to serve more people each year.
How people reach us. The hospital emergency department, primary care clinics, drug court, probation and local churches.
Competitive Landscape
Other help, and how we work with it.
- Larger treatment programs and community mental health centers provide care, but often have long waits. We work with them and serve people they cannot see quickly. We share referrals with the county mental health center.
- Private therapists provide care but may be costly and may not take Medicaid. We offer a sliding scale.
- Hospitals and emergency rooms provide crisis care. We provide follow-up treatment.
- Peer recovery organizations and mutual aid groups offer support. We partner with them.
- Primary care clinics offer some behavioral health care. We coordinate with them.
What makes us different: short waits, a sliding scale, evening hours and treatment for mental health and substance use together
Marketing & Sales Strategy
How we reach people and build support.
Reaching people:
- Referrals from emergency departments, primary care clinics, courts, jails, probation, shelters and other providers.
- Information at community events, libraries, churches and social service agencies.
- Word of mouth from people in recovery and families.
- A simple, respectful way to request an appointment, by phone, text or online.
Getting paid by insurance. Over time, we plan to bill Medicaid and private insurance, which means being approved (credentialed) by each payer. This takes months and requires licensed staff and strong records. Until we are approved, our income depends on grants and sliding scale fees.
Volunteers. Faith communities, peer recovery groups and college students.
Raising money beyond grants. Insurance billing are planned at about $30,000 in Year 1, growing to about $108,000 by Year 5, through a yearly giving campaign, business and community partners, a community event and online giving. Raising more of our own money means we depend less on any one grant or contract.
Operations Plan
How the program runs.
How a person moves through treatment:
1. A call or referral, and a short screening for safety and urgency.
2. An assessment with a licensed clinician and a written plan.
3. Regular individual and group sessions.
4. A review of the plan at set times, and referrals to other care as needed.
5. A plan for after treatment, including follow-up and connections to support.
A first appointment. The therapist explains privacy and its limits, asks what brought the person in, checks for safety and agrees on goals and a schedule.
Licensing and rules. Treatment programs must be licensed by the state, and may need accreditation, written clinical policies, background checks, supervision and insurance. Records about substance use treatment are protected by strict federal rules (known as 42 CFR Part 2), and all health records fall under HIPAA. We get legal help to make sure we follow every rule before we see our first client.
Privacy. Treatment records are kept private and locked. We share information only with the person's written consent or when the law requires it, and funders get totals, never names.
Equipment. In Year 1 we buy about $6,000 in equipment (laptops, a secure electronic records system, a printer and office furniture), then about $1,500 to $2,000 a year to replace worn items.
Staff. One licensed therapist in Year 1, then two in Year 2, three in Year 3, five in Year 4 and six in Year 5. Therapists have a limited caseload and regular clinical supervision.
Office work. Bookkeeping, insurance and reporting cost about $16,000 in Year 1.
Management & Organization
Who leads the organization.
Marcus Russell, Executive Director and Clinical Director.
The Executive Director leads the organization, raises money and manages grants and contracts, builds partnerships, oversees the finances and reports to the Board. As Clinical Director, this person must hold the license our state requires for the services we provide, and is responsible for the quality, safety and legal compliance of all treatment. Planned salary: $70,000 a year.
Licensed therapists. Provide assessment, individual and group therapy, keep clinical records and take part in crisis planning. One position in Year 1, growing to six by Year 5, at a planned salary of $54,000 each. Qualifications we look for: a licensed counselor or clinical social worker with at least two years of experience treating substance use and mental health.
Volunteers. Volunteers help with outreach, events and community education. They do not provide treatment or have access to clinical records.
Board of Directors. A five-member board including Karen Ramirez, who brings nonprofit finance experience.
Money management. Grant and contract money is tracked separately so we can show each funder exactly how their money was spent. An outside accountant reviews our books every year.
Milestones Narrative
Our goals and how we will measure them.
Year 1:
- Complete state licensing and set up our records and privacy systems.
- Hire our first licensed therapist and sign agreements with our physician and other partners.
- Serve about 120 people over the year.
- Reach our Year 1 goals for wait times, treatment completion and client progress.
- Stay within a balanced budget of about $158,000.
Year 2: two licensed therapists; budget of about $214,000.
Year 3: three licensed therapists; budget of about $270,000.
Year 4: five licensed therapists; budget of about $382,000.
Year 5: six licensed therapists; budget of about $438,000.
Over the five years: grow to six licensed therapists, become approved to bill insurance, add group programs and extend our hours. Licensing and compliance costs grow about 4% a year.
How we will check our results. We track wait times, attendance, completion and standard questionnaire scores. Twice a year a short survey asks clients how respected and helped they feel. Staff and the Board review results and share totals with funders.
Funding Request
What we are asking for, and how the money will be used. Our request: $75,000 from the Lakeshore Community Trust for our first licensed therapist's salary, licensing and compliance costs and the costs of reporting results, for January through December 2027. Year 1 budget: about $158,000, planned to balance. Year 1 money coming in: - Grants and government contracts: $128,000 (this request plus other grants we are applying for). - Insurance billing: $30,000. Year 1 costs: - Executive Director and Clinical Director: $70,000. - Licensed therapists: $54,000. - Program licensing and compliance (state license, accreditation, record systems, training): $14,000. - Office costs (bookkeeping, insurance, reporting): $16,000. - That is about $154,000 in costs. The remaining $4,000 or so goes into savings. Equipment we buy once at the start (about $6,000) is paid from startup money, not from the yearly budget. The next five years. Our budget grows from about $158,000 in Year 1 to about $438,000 in Year 5 as we grow to six licensed therapists. Grants and contracts are planned at $128,000 in Year 1, $169,000 in Year 2, $206,000 in Year 3, $297,000 in Year 4 and $330,000 in Year 5. Insurance billing grow from $30,000 to $108,000, so grants become a smaller part of our budget over time. Savings. We start with about $22,000 of our own plus $75,000 in startup support, and we add to savings each year. Important for Medicaid, insurance and government funds. Becoming approved to bill can take months, payment may come weeks after a visit, and many funds come with strict reporting. Our Year 1 plan assumes some insurance income; if approval is delayed, we plan to cover the gap with grants or savings, so we keep a reserve. Help we receive that is not cash. Donated space, partner physicians' time, donated supplies and volunteer hours are a real part of what we do and are not counted in the budget above. Free use of a clinic suite on evenings (about $7,000 a year in rent value), consultation hours from a partner physician and about 300 volunteer hours a year If we are just starting. A new organization can begin before it has its own 501(c)(3) status. One way is a fiscal sponsor: an established nonprofit that agrees to receive grants for you and pass them to your program, usually for a fee (commonly around 5% to 10% of the grant, sometimes more; ask before you agree). Many funders accept this. Another way is to start smaller: partner with an existing licensed provider or clinic, start with a small number of licensed clinicians and a clear scope of services, and track results carefully. Safety and compliance come before growth. Strong results from a small start make larger grants and contracts easier to win.
Appendix Notes
Documents to attach with this proposal:
- Your IRS 501(c)(3) letter, or your fiscal sponsor agreement.
- Your most recent financial statements and your current budget.
- A list of your Board members and what they do.
- Your state license, or the steps and timeline to get it, and your clinicians' licenses.
- Letters of support from physicians, hospitals, courts or other partners.
- Your clinical policies, privacy and consent forms, and crisis plan.
- Your numbers from the past year, if you have them.
- Resumes for your Executive Director and key staff. If you don't have any of this yet, no worries - let's continue.
The assumptions behind our numbers (change them in the Financials section to match your own):
- Staff pay: Executive Director and Clinical Director $70,000; each licensed therapist $54,000, growing from 1 to 6.
- Licensing and compliance costs about $14,000 in Year 1, rising about 4% a year
- Office costs about $16,000 in Year 1, rising about 4% a year.
- Grants and contracts set so each year's budget balances with a small amount saved.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your organization's real budget.