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

Directions for Youth & Families impacts over 6,300 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.

How you can get involved

Learn about DFYF’s reach in the central Ohio community; enjoy our Summer News and our Summer camp highlight reel.

State of the Child Brunch  was May 10, 2023. Thank you to all who attended and helped us raise funds for DFYF programs and services. We enjoyed music and dance performances from the kids and celebrated the resilience of our community.

Rooted in Change is a community changing movement grounded in the basic needs of food, shelter, safety, health, education, and human life. The new Crittenton Community Center, scheduled to open July 2023, partners with 23 non-profit organizations to provide needed services in an impoverished area.

Annual Campaign – Your annual support of DFYF’s clinical counseling, education and after-school/summer programming is vital to our ability to offer these services in the community. When you donate to DFYF you make hope, healing and resiliency possible for over 6,300 central Ohio youth and their families annually.

Directions for Youth & Families selected as the 2022 Honoree of The Columbus Foundation Award!

We are honored to be recognized for the important role our programs and services play in bringing stability and opportunity to youth, families, and neighborhoods. More details 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 Community 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