Leading with Purpose to Encourage Hope and Courage

Featuring Wendy lee

Executive Director of Turning Point Center for Youth and Family Development

Wendy Lee was born and raised in Dolores, Colorado, and moved to Fort Collins to attend college in 1990. She graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in adolescents and a Master's degree in Social Work. Wendy continues to be involved in the Colorado State University Psychology department, teaching in the Master’s in Addiction Counseling program. She is a mother of three daughters and wife to a fireman Battalion Chief.

Wendy is a licensed Clinical Social Worker and a licensed Addiction Counselor, starting her career at an adolescent residential treatment center. This experience, according to Wendy, “prepared me for what would become my greatest strength as a counselor-the ability to reach into a person’s heart and help them become the person they know they want to be and are capable of becoming. I take no credit for changing people. I simply help my clients find the courage to face the vulnerabilities about themselves… and then change from within for a lifetime.”

Wendy worked at the Turning Point Center for Youth and Family Development early in her career and returned 19 years later to an impactful role as Clinical Director. In April 2024, Wendy became the Executive Director. According to colleague Annie Lindgren, "Wendy handles challenges with grace and collaboration, and I am grateful to be part of the dream team coming together under her leadership."

Turning Point is a Fort Collins & Greeley Mental health nonprofit organization that fosters meaningful connections, growth, and wellness through personalized services for individuals, families, and communities impacted by trauma, mental health, and substance use challenges, through an adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program, individual and family therapy, coaching and family services, and DUI and DWAI classes. 

What drives Wendy? “Many people want to change. It is my goal to help individuals and families break the cycle of suffering, and identify the obstacles that are blocking their journey to a happy and successful life. I help you find hope and courage so that you can do the rest.”

Reframing Action for Child Abuse Prevention

Featuring Dr. Melissa T. Merrick

President & CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America

Prevent Child Abuse America is the nation’s oldest and largest organization committed to preventing child abuse and neglect before it happens, working towards a world where all children and families are living a purposeful and happy life with hope for the future by promoting programs and resources informed by science. A nationwide network of state chapters and home visiting sites provides parents and caregivers with a wide variety of services and resources. Respected experts develop innovative research to raise public awareness for family friendly policies at the national, state, and local levels.

Prevent Child Abuse America is led by President and CEO, Dr. Melissa T. Merrick, who is shaping philosophy and best practices. “For decades, our nation tackled the problem of child abuse and neglect through intervention and after-the-fact engagement. But research has proven that we can actually prevent child abuse before it happens by providing much-needed supports to parents and children,” says Dr. Merrick.

Dr. Merrick’s educational background focused on clinical psychology, with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree from San Diego State University and a doctoral degree from the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Merrick has served as a senior epidemiologist at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is recognized as one of the country’s foremost experts on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). She has more than 20 years of clinical, research, and leadership experience related to the etiology, course, and prevention of child abuse and neglect.

According to Dr. Merrick, “We’re reinforcing the message that “Everyone can make great childhoods happen-especially you!” You don’t have to be a movie star or a professional athlete…all you need is a desire to make a difference. We all want what’s best for our children-for them to be safe, healthy, and happy. In fact, we want this for our children more than even for ourselves. Unfortunately, we don’t always share these same hopes and commitments to action for everybody’s children, let alone children and families in other communities and neighborhoods beyond our own. Together, we can prevent child abuse, America…because childhood lasts a lifetime.”