Begin the Turn 

This mobile-based recovery and care program serves people experiencing substance use disorders and other addictions.  

Begin the Turn acknowledges each person’s dignity through an integrative program of community-based outreach, initiatives, and education. Our team seeks to dismantle the stigma attached to the disease of addiction and empower those struggling with it to navigate a complex and intimidating system.  

Care is provided in a safe and inclusive environment. We focus on harm reduction and treatment. Recovery is supported through street-based treatment efforts and linkages to social services. Wrap-around care includes buprenorphine services for opioid use disorder, counseling, case management, and other rehabilitative services and opportunities. 

Cure Violence Philadelphia 

Violence is a critical public health issue. Our program is designed to reduce the spread of violence by interrupting its transmission, concentrating on those at highest risk, and changing social norms that propagate violence.  

Based on the global Cure Violence model created in Chicago, our adapted model works to reduce the level of violence, particularly shootings and homicides, in Philadelphia. Trained outreach workers identify and mediate conflicts in the community. They work with high-risk individuals—meeting them where they are and helping them obtain the social services they need—making them less likely to commit violence. 

Program for Maternal Health Equity (PMHE)

The Program for Maternal Health Equity conducts ethical, and community-engaged research to advance and nurture the health, wellbeing and agency of birthing families in Philadelphia and beyond.

Through collaborative program action and by leveraging resources in service of community needs, PMHE's team of clinicians, birth workers, and researchers cultivate impactful and sustainable solutions that support health equity at individual, family, health system, and societal levels. The program’s vision is to create a society that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of birthing families.

Philadelphia Healthy and Safe Schools (PHASeS) 

This progressive, human-centered initiative focuses on creating trauma-informed schools. A primary objective is to engage with community sectors, staff, parents, and children to increase their awareness and application of trauma-informed principles. A team of trauma specialists use educational coaching, parenting guidance, and social work values to empower the school community. The program is being evaluated by a team of faculty and staff at Temple’s College of Education and Human Development.  

One goal has been to transform two nearby public K-8 schools into urban-trauma sensitive beacons.  Safe and welcoming trauma-informed schools where children can learn, teachers can educate, and the community can grow will promote a sustainable environment where students can achieve educational milestones and have greater academic and social equity.