"Empowering youth and their families to make sound choices and achieve promising futures." Directions for Youth & Families offers programs that provide community-based treatment and prevention services that emphasize commitment to the family, school, and work. Services are provided through innovative programs that focus on the redirection of self-defeating behaviors and assisting youth and families in leading positive and productive lives. We believe every person has a right to grow up in a healthy environment, free of neglect and abuse. We affirm people’s right to self-awareness, self-respect, self-fulfillment, and confidentiality. Youth and families can best learn new behaviors in their natural environment and we believe that strengthening family relationships will bring about the most significant changes. We support the basic values of the human service field beginning with where the client is and protecting an individual’s right to self-determination. Our accepting and non-judgmental approach respects each individual and the family unit, recognizing strengths in diversity, culture, values, and belief systems. We promote an individual and family’s right to choose. Our purpose is not to make choices for people, nor tell them what to decide. We discuss options with those we serve and respect their decisions, thereby preserving and affording people the opportunity to learn and grow from the choices they make regarding their lives.
External link for Directions for Youth & Families
1515 Indianola Ave
Columbus, OH 43201, US
3840 Kimberly Parkway N.
Columbus, OH 43232, US
657 South Ohio Ave.
Columbus, OH 43205, US
Welcome to the family See Kids Dream!!! We are thrilled to be under the same umbrella 🙂🌂
It’s official! See Kids Dream is proud to announce our merger with Directions for Youth & Families. This exciting new partnership will enhance our ability to empower and educate youth across Central Ohio. Here's to a brighter future together! #SKDandDFYF #BetterTogether
Meet Chloe and her family! They have been a part of Directions for Youth & Families programming for more than a decade. See the impact DFYF has in our community through this heartwarming story of trust, growth, and opportunity. #YouthEmpowerment, #FamilyConnection, #CommunityBuilding, #TogetherWeGrow #DirectionsForYouthAndFamilies
Meet Latisha, she is one of many counselors who work in our School Connections program. This program provides vital counseling services to students, focusing on mental health, behavioral health, and other individual needs within schools. By being in schools, we eliminate transportation barriers to ensure youth get the counseling they need. She and many other counselors provide an invaluable resource that positively impacts not only the students but also supports their families, staff, and the entire community. Visit our Youtube channel to hear the full story and to see the impact the School Connections Program has on our community! #SchoolConnections #StudentSupport #CommunityImpact #CounselingServices #InSchoolCounseling #EducationalPartnerships
At Directions for Youth and Families, we're dedicated to supporting our youth, building trust with our families, and uplifting our communities. When we all come together, we grow together! See the impact of our programming in our community through the heartwarming story of one of our remarkable youth and her family as they share their experiences with Directions over the years. Check out the full video on the Directions For Youth & Families YouTube channel now! #YouthEmpowerment #FamilyConnection #CommunityBuilding #TogetherWeGrow #DirectionsForYouthAndFamilies
A HUGE thank you to everyone who attended the 2024 State of the Child brunch! We hope you all enjoyed the show as much as we did. State of the Child is DFYF's largest fundraiser of the year so let's keep the momentum going! If you weren't able to attend, please consider donating by visiting our webpage. You can help support the vital services that DFYF provides to the Central Ohio community. Every dollar matters! Follow us on Youtube in the upcoming days for performances from the event! #localsupport #studenttalent #communityevent #communityimpact
State of the Child is Directions for Youth & Families largest fundraiser of the year. By supporting DFYF, you are helping to provide mental health and prevention services to over 6000 children and families each year. You are addressing inequality in Central Ohio's underserved communities where essential resources that most of us take for granted are lacking. Help support DFYF by becoming a sponsor or buying tickets for State of the Child today! Come see and feel the impact that DFYF has on the Columbus community. If you can't attend, please consider making a donation at dfyf.org. We thank you for your support and we hope to see you on May 8th for State of the Child.
As we wrap up #SocialWorkMonth, we'd like to introduce you to four more of our amazing teams. First, meet Deja and her outstanding team.They're the driving force behind the School Connections program at South-Western City School District, serving 22 schools with passion and purpose. With a focus on teaching youth emotional regulation, they provide invaluable support during times of changing family dynamics and other challenges youth face. Next is Andrea and her powerhouse team. Andrea manages a dedicated group of social workers in our School Connections Program across Columbus City Schools - Ohio Human Resources and South-Western City School District as well as our Outreach Counseling Program. Together, they empower students to enhance self-regulation, executive functioning, and trauma processing skills. Introducing Tom, our stellar billing manager, and his exceptional team! From insurance verification to securing financial assistance, they've got your back. Navigating the complexities of insurance, they ensure a seamless billing process for all clients, allowing our workers to focus on delivering top-notch treatment. Finally, meet Sierra and her exceptional interns! Sierra oversees our internship program, offering valuable opportunities for individuals pursuing bachelor's and master's degrees. We provide tailored internships catering to the unique needs and skill sets of both undergraduate and graduate students. Thank you to all of our teams for your commitment to shaping the future generations!
March is #SocialWorkMonth and Directions for Youth and Families would like to introduce 3 of our amazing teams! First up, meet Hannah and her incredible team! Hannah leads our Worthington School Connections, Teen Parent Connections, and Healthy Alternatives for Youth programs. These dedicated social workers offer counseling and support to families in Worthington Schools, South-Western City School District, and Columbus City Schools - Ohio. Hannah also has staff in Teen Parent Connections and our general outreach counseling programs. Next is Gary's team. Gary leads our Court Programs, Building Bright Futures Reclaim, and Outreach Counseling Program-Truancy initiatives with unwavering dedication. With a collective 115 years of DFYF experience, Gary's team upholds a standard of excellence. They provide invaluable support to youth, focusing on enhancing communication skills, anger management, task completion, and coping strategies. Finally, meet Lucian's team. Lucian leads her team in various youth education programs: Ready, Set, Grow Kindergarten Readiness, Early Head Start Program, Positive Paths Parenting Classes, and the latest addition, OSU’s Early Head Start Pregnant Mom’s program. Lucian’s team works incredibly hard to lay a foundation for children, setting them up for success in school! Thank you to all of these wondeful staff members for the incredible work that they do! #NASW #EmpoweringSocialWorkers #NSWMonth2024
Informative, entertaining, and always amazing, the 2024 State of the Child event is almost here! Support the important counseling and education programs we provide in the central Ohio community by purchasing a sponsorship package today!. Scan the QR code or visit our website for more info. This is a truly unique event. Watch our video to see why.