Directions for Youth & Families

Directions for Youth & Families believes that struggling youth and families need help on multiple fronts. Prevention, Intervention, Education - a mixture of all three must be available so that each individual's needs can be adequately met. Directions for Youth & Families offers programs and services for each of these categories, making it one of the most effective resources available for troubled families and children. Directions for Youth & Families has roots dating back to 1899, when Associated Charities was established. Through many years, many name changes, and several mergers, they became Crittenton Family Services in 1992, offering counseling and other intervention and education services to families and children. In 1968, Juvenile Probation Council and Friends In Action were formed. These two additional service organizations would become the basis of Directions' Prevention services (with intervention services available as well). They merged in 1983 to form Directions For Youth. Directions for Youth and Families was born of the 1999 merger of Crittenton Family Services and Directions For Youth, creating one organization that provides prevention, education, and intervention services to families and youth in central Ohio.