Building a bridge to a brighter tomorrow H1
Our innovative prevention and leadership programs empower youth to be the force for change in themselves, their families, their schools and their communities - now and in the future. CND is building a bridge to a brighter tomorrow by empowering tomorrow’s leaders today.
Empowering individuals to achieve their potential H2
CND believes in giving youth the best chance at a healthy and bright future by preparing our youth to be future leaders. As our children prepare for the future, CND helps them to understand the importance of being a role model who leads with integrity by making healthy choices to be safe and drug-free. In 1989, residents living in Franklinton, west of downtown Columbus, OH felt that a lack of positive opportunities in the community resulted in too many youth turning to the negative choices of drugs, alcohol, gang activities and crime.
So, from a two-bedroom apartment in the Sullivant Gardens Housing Development, Community for New Direction (CND) began as a volunteer-run program providing youth development and prevention programming to high-risk youth.
Mission: providing innovative programs and supporting positive relationships H3
Community for New Direction helps youth to make a successful transition to adulthood by educating youth on decision making, refusal skills and decorum, as well as providing recreational activities that exclude the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
Our Purpose & Vision Statement H4
Our primary purpose is to prevent the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, as well as violence (ATOD-V) in youth served by our programs. CND envisions a day when our community is drug and violence free.
Values Statements H5
- Empowerment: We believe our interventions can empower youth to overcome barriers and choose a path to reach their full potential.
- Leadership: We believe that children can be leaders in their communities, now and in the future.
- Character: We believe that building character in children and youth is the foundation of a healthy and productive life.
- Recovery: We believe that with focus and the right treatment, those facing addiction can experience a full life in recovery.
It was 1989 when residents living in Franklinton, west of downtown Columbus, decided to take action.
Why? Too many kids were dropping out of high school and turning to drugs, alcohol, gang activities and crime. So, from a two-bedroom apartment in the Sullivant Gardens Housing Development, Community for New Direction (CND) began as a volunteer-run program providing positive mentoring and prevention programming to high-risk youth. In 1995, the program incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit agency. When the ADAMH Board of Franklin County noticed the success of CND, it asked the agency to open another office and expand to the near eastside. This was the start of tremendous growth for CND. CND’s first Executive Director was Pastor L’Tanya Lemon and first Board Chairman was Mike Smeltzer. They were instrumental in our growth as an agency.
After a merger with The Prevention Council of Central Ohio in 2010 and later an expansion to include adult mental health and substance use disorder treatment services, CND has become a premier provider of these much-needed programs in our community. In 2019, CND opened an all-male Recovery House as part of our adult treatment program and achieved a 3-year CARF accrediation.
Today, CND serves more than 2,000 individuals a year.
Hey this is Kevin Moore. Here’s what I’ve been doing since I did CND.
I graduated high school in 2013. I also was one of the 3 students you guys chose to give a scholarship to. A couple years later I graduated from a trade school. Since then I have been working with kids and coaching. I do a sports camp with Ohio State every summer and am the head track coach for that program, coaching kids age 8-14. I also will be coaching middle school track this upcoming year at a school in Whitehall. Besides for coaching I also am a teacher’s aide for a 2nd grade multiple disabilities classroom and I just finished up my 2nd year doing a before and after school program. This year I plan to focus on coaching at the middle school and teaching in my classroom and also re-enrolling in school to get my bachelor’s degree to become a gym teacher. CND was a great opportunity for me to be able to travel, meet new people, build my confidence, and learn about college and the real world. I am beyond thankful for everything I learned and the connections I built through CND. It helped me tremendously.
It was 1989 when residents living in Franklinton, west of downtown Columbus, decided to take action.
Why? Too many kids were dropping out of high school and turning to drugs, alcohol, gang activities and crime. So, from a two-bedroom apartment in the Sullivant Gardens Housing Development, Community for New Direction (CND) began as a volunteer-run program providing positive mentoring and prevention programming to high-risk youth. In 1995, the program incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit agency. When the ADAMH Board of Franklin County noticed the success of CND, it asked the agency to open another office and expand to the near eastside. This was the start of tremendous growth for CND. CND’s first Executive Director was Pastor L’Tanya Lemon and first Board Chairman was Mike Smeltzer. They were instrumental in our growth as an agency.
After a merger with The Prevention Council of Central Ohio in 2010 and later an expansion to include adult mental health and substance use disorder treatment services, CND has become a premier provider of these much-needed programs in our community. In 2019, CND opened an all-male Recovery House as part of our adult treatment program and achieved a 3-year CARF accrediation.
Today, CND serves more than 2,000 individuals a year.
| Name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Jon Smith | jon.smith@cndcolumbus.org | 234-222-9867 |
| Jon Smith | jon.smith@cndcolumbus.org | 234-222-9867 |
| Jon Smith | jon.smith@cndcolumbus.org | 234-222-9867 |
| Jon Smith | jon.smith@cndcolumbus.org | 234-222-9867 |
