Directions for Youth & Families

Directions for Youth & Families impacts over 6,300 youth and their families each year through mental and behavioral health services. We are a resiliency-oriented, trauma-informed agency working and training with experts and educators. Through counseling, education, and support programs we are proud of the impact we have in contributing to a healthy community – one individual, one family at a time.

CLINICAL COUNSELING

Counseling services are available for children, adolescents, and adults. Our treatment programs address a wide range of issues including school challenges, sexual abuse, domestic violence, depression and anxiety, physical abuse/neglect, family conflict, grief and loss, delinquency, and substance use. The majority of our treatment programs are provided on an outreach basis – in client’s homes, schools, or other community settings – to reduce barriers to treatment and provide services in the environment they are needed. Some office-based counseling is available.

EARLY CHILDHOOD & PREVENTION PROGRAMS

Ready Set Grow, an in-home kindergarten readiness program, works directly with children and parent/guardian to enhance learning and assist parents with child development skills. We provide case management services for our Early Head Start collaboration with OSU along with our Prenatal collaboration. Life Skills Program for middle and high school students provides group-based substance abuse prevention programming. See Kids Dream for elementary and middle school students provides service-learning curriculum to build empathy and knowledge of needs of the community. Our School Connections program promotes a Trauma Informed Care approach working closely with teachers, students and their families.

AFTER-SCHOOL & SUMMER PROGRAMS

DFYF operates two centers providing an environment that is safe, positive, and educational. Crittenton Community Center, on the east side in the Kimberly Parkway neighborhood, and Ohio Avenue Youth Center offer new opportunities and healthy alternatives to delinquent activities prevalent in high-risk neighborhoods. Our after-school and summer programs provide homework help, computer labs, leadership development, recreation and creative arts programming.

For more information go to www.dfyf.org

1515 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201 • www.dfyf.org • 614.294.2661 • intake@dfyf.org