Directions for Youth & Families After-School & Summer Programs
Ohio Avenue Youth Center, 657 S Ohio Ave, Columbus, OH 43205
About
Directions for Youth & Families After-School & Summer Programs include homework help, computer labs, leadership development, recreation, and creative arts programming. The program operates through two youth centers that provide both after-school and summer program options.
• Schedule: After-school and summer programs are offered Monday through Friday, with school year hours from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and summer program hours from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Directions for Youth & Families states its mission as building and inspiring hope, healing and resilience for youth, families and communities through counseling and education. Directions for Youth & Families has roots dating back to 1899 through Associated Charities, with later developments including the formation of Crittenton Family Services in 1992 and the merger of Juvenile Probation Council and Friends In Action in 1983 to form Directions For Youth. Crittenton Family Services and Directions For Youth merged in 1999 to create Directions for Youth & Families. DFYF’s licensed clinicians, prevention specialists and after-school workers have been trained in the Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency (ARC) model of Trauma-Informed and Resiliency-Oriented Care. DFYF was one of 12 agencies in the nation that piloted the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) trauma assessment tool, and the CEO was invited to the White House to present the findings of this tool and the implications and impact trauma has on life expectancy. Directions for Youth & Families impacts over 8,500 youth and their families each year through mental, emotional and behavioral health services and values donations that support outreach clinical counseling and education programs for kids and families in Central Ohio. DFYF identifies as a resiliency-oriented, trauma-informed agency and notes that most counseling services are provided on an outreach basis in youths’ homes, schools or other community settings, and that it operates two youth centers providing these after-school and summer programs. DFYF states that it believes communities can heal themselves and plans to promote community development through the Crittenton Community Center by providing a place where community members may gather, open a dialogue, build a supportive community, and meet in collaboration with community providers of services.
Last updated June 28, 2026.
• Schedule: After-school and summer programs are offered Monday through Friday, with school year hours from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and summer program hours from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Directions for Youth & Families states its mission as building and inspiring hope, healing and resilience for youth, families and communities through counseling and education. Directions for Youth & Families has roots dating back to 1899 through Associated Charities, with later developments including the formation of Crittenton Family Services in 1992 and the merger of Juvenile Probation Council and Friends In Action in 1983 to form Directions For Youth. Crittenton Family Services and Directions For Youth merged in 1999 to create Directions for Youth & Families. DFYF’s licensed clinicians, prevention specialists and after-school workers have been trained in the Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency (ARC) model of Trauma-Informed and Resiliency-Oriented Care. DFYF was one of 12 agencies in the nation that piloted the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) trauma assessment tool, and the CEO was invited to the White House to present the findings of this tool and the implications and impact trauma has on life expectancy. Directions for Youth & Families impacts over 8,500 youth and their families each year through mental, emotional and behavioral health services and values donations that support outreach clinical counseling and education programs for kids and families in Central Ohio. DFYF identifies as a resiliency-oriented, trauma-informed agency and notes that most counseling services are provided on an outreach basis in youths’ homes, schools or other community settings, and that it operates two youth centers providing these after-school and summer programs. DFYF states that it believes communities can heal themselves and plans to promote community development through the Crittenton Community Center by providing a place where community members may gather, open a dialogue, build a supportive community, and meet in collaboration with community providers of services.
Last updated June 28, 2026.
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