Our response to COVID-19

Directions for Youth & Families (DFYF) is committed to promoting health and safety in our community during the challenges posed by COVID-19. Our first priority is keeping our youth and staff safe and healthy.

To maintain safety and serve our clientele to the best of our ability:

  • All DFYF counseling services will be provided through telephone, Telehealth or other technology platforms. If you are a current client, contact your clinician with any questions; otherwise contact intake@dfyf.org or 614-294-2661.
  • Our after-school programming has been suspended until further notice. We will provide “carry-out” food distribution for our after-school families. Ohio Avenue Youth Center and Crittenton Center will be open M-F during lunchtime 12-2 and dinnertime 4-6 for meal pick-up.

We are staying in close contact with medical and health professionals and will continue to monitor the situation and communicate any changes to our service delivery. The safety and well-being of our clients and staff will always be our top priority.

Please visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov for daily updates and resources. If you have any questions regarding the virus, please call the Ohio Department of Health at 1-833-4ASKODH (1-833-427-5634).

Improving lives of individuals, families, and communities through counseling, education, and support.

Directions for Youth & Families impacts over 6,000 youth and their families each year through mental, emotional 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.

You can get involved with DFYF by supporting our events and celebrating our youth.

Your support means everything to us. When you donate to DFYF programs and services you make hope, healing and resiliency possible for central Ohio youth and their families.

See all our events and activities here.

Counseling
Services

We provide 15 programs addressing a range of issues including school concerns, sexual abuse, delinquency, domestic violence, family conflict, substance abuse and mental health issues. Most programs are provided on an outreach basis, in youth’s homes, schools or other community settings. Learn more.

Educational
Programs

Our Positive Paths Parenting classes provide skills and education to strengthen the family unit. Ready, Set, Grow is an in-home kindergarten readiness program working directly with children and parent/guardian to enhance learning and assist parents with child development skills.

After School &
Summer Programs

Our after-school and summer programs provide homework help, computer labs, leadership development, recreation and creative arts programming. We operate two youth centers, Crittenton Center, on the east side in the Kimberly Parkway neighborhood, and Ohio Avenue Youth Center.

  • Central Ohio United Way
  • ADAMH
  • Franklin County DJFS
  • National Crittenton Foundation
  • Council of Accreditation
  • Ohio Mental Health