Directions for Living

What Directions for Living does

Directions for Living is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit behavioral health organization founded in 1982 and headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, delivering integrated mental health, family support, and housing stability services across Pinellas County. The organization operates three primary service divisions — Outpatient Services (adult and children's behavioral health, psychiatry, case management), Families First (wraparound, BabyCAT, Together We Rise, Family Intensive Treatment, parenting support), and Housing First (targeted prevention, HOME outreach, SOAR/SSI-SSDI access, rapid rehousing) — delivered through two physical hubs in Clearwater and Largo, plus co-located services inside Pinellas County Schools, the 6th Judicial Circuit Mental Health Court, Pinellas County Health Department sites, and St. Petersburg College.

The underlying technology stack is modest but selectively modern: a Same Day Access walk-in intake system, telehealth delivery (including the TRACE program providing on-demand crisis access to law enforcement in the field), AI-driven documentation tools to reduce clinician administrative load, and an on-site Genoa Healthcare pharmacy partnership supporting prescription fulfillment, free delivery, and cost-assistance programs. Service delivery is grounded in evidence-based practices including the Wraparound care model, Mental Health First Aid training curricula (Adult, Youth, Teen, First Responder), and CARF-accredited clinical standards.

Revenue mechanics combine insurance reimbursement (Medicaid, Medicare, select commercial), a sliding-fee scale for uninsured clients (no client turned away for inability to pay), government and foundation grants (DCF, Juvenile Welfare Board, Pinellas County), community donations, and annual fundraising events (PB&J Run, Little Lights). The organization also generates fee-based training revenue through Crisis Intervention Team Training ($495 per officer) and Mental Health First Aid courses for community and corporate groups, supported by a Client Advisory Board in continuous operation since 1992.

Name

Directions for Living

Legal name

Directions for Living

Website

https://directionsforliving.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Directions for Living is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit behavioral health organization founded in 1982 in Pinellas County, Florida, delivering integrated adult and children's mental health, wraparound family support, and housing stability services to 30,000+ clients annually through community partnerships, telehealth, and evidence-based programs including Mental Health First Aid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Clearwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Reimbursement: Accepts most Medicaid and Medicare plans, along with select commercial insurance options for behavioral health services
2. Sliding Fee Scale Services: For uninsured clients, offers sliding fee scale based on income to ensure accessibility to care regardless of ability to pay
3. Donations and Grants: Funded in part by government and community partners including DCF, Juvenile Welfare Board, Pinellas County, and other foundations and organizations
4. Event Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including PB&J Run and Little Lights provide donations to support organizational mission and services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Directions for Living is a nonprofit behavioral health organization that provides integrated outpatient mental health services for adults and children, wraparound family support programs, housing stability and homelessness prevention services, and community training programs (including Mental Health First Aid) across Pinellas County, Florida. Services are delivered through two main centers in Clearwater and Largo, plus extensive co-location partnerships with schools, courts, healthcare providers, and law enforcement.

Product overview

Directions for Living is a nonprofit behavioral health organization providing integrated mental health and family support services across Pinellas County, Florida. The organization operates as a unified service delivery platform offering adult and children's mental health services, family support programs, housing stability initiatives, collaborative community partnerships, and on-site pharmacy services. Core programs include Mental Health First Aid training, Crisis Intervention Team training, and community education. The organization uses evidence-based practices including the Wraparound care model and provides same-day access to services without appointments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Mental Health Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ clients cared for each year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Genoa HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenoa Healthcare hosts a full-service in-house pharmacy at Directions for Living's Clearwater Center for the convenience of clients to fill prescriptions. The partnership provides personalized medication support, free delivery options, medication organization tools, 24/7 assistance, and cost assistance programs.
• Pinellas County School SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative programs including Treatment Works for youth ages 5-18, Family Works for homeless students, and First Five for early learning centers. Services provided in schools with referrals from HEAT Team.
• 6th Judicial Circuit - Mental Health CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental Health Court program diverts individuals with severe and persistent mental illness from criminal justice system to appropriate mental health treatment and supportive services.
• Pinellas County Health DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirections for Living provides individual counseling and linkage to mental health case management and psychiatric medication services at Health Department locations in Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, Mid-County, St. Petersburg, Bayside, Pinellas Park, and through the mobile medical unit.
• St. Petersburg CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides no-cost counseling services to current SPC students via telehealth or in-person, up to 7 sessions per academic year through the Student Mental Health and Wellness Program.
• EleoscoreTechnology or IntegrationEleos Wellness & Support provides local no-cost crisis stabilization resources. Contact at (727) 791-3131 for mental health crisis support.
• Department of Children and Families (DCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCF is a major funder and referral source for Directions for Living's child welfare and family support programs including BabyCAT, Together We Rise, and Family Intensive Treatment.
• First Contact / Homeless Leadership AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency shelter access point for Pinellas County. Family Works program referrals come through HEAT Team, 211 First Contact, and Homeless Leadership Alliance.
• FloridaRAMAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for Little Lights fundraiser event - an immersive art evening benefiting Directions for Living's trauma-informed care programs during Child Abuse Prevention Month.
• Florida BlueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVIP sponsor for the Little Lights 2026 event. Supporting child abuse prevention and mental health services for children and families in Tampa Bay.
• Thrive by Five Tampa BayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognized Directions for Living as a Gold Family Friendly Business for strong workplace policies supporting team members and families.
• Law Enforcement AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRACE program provides law enforcement officers immediate access to trained counselors via on-demand telehealth. CIT training equips officers with mental health crisis response skills.
• Department of Juvenile JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTreatment Works program accepts referrals from DJJ for youth ages 5-18 facing suicidal or homicidal thoughts requiring intensive wraparound support.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis LifelinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational crisis hotline partnered with Directions for Living for immediate mental health crisis support accessible by calling or texting 988.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Centerstone: National nonprofit behavioral health provider delivering mental health, substance use, housing, and family services across multiple states. Comparable in mission, integrated service portfolio, and reliance on government payors.
• Eckerd Connects: Florida-headquartered nonprofit providing youth, family, and behavioral health services, including connections to child welfare (similar to Directions for Living's Families First division) and juvenile justice programs.
• Camelot Community Care: Multi-state nonprofit offering therapeutic foster care, family preservation, behavioral health counseling, and case management — directly comparable to Directions for Living's Families First and Wraparound work.
• Children's Home Society of Florida: Florida-wide nonprofit operating adoption, family support, mental health, and child welfare prevention programs; the closest same-state direct peer to Directions for Living's Families First division.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large nonprofit behavioral health organization serving children, adolescents, and adults with mental health and intellectual/developmental disabilities across many states. Comparable in integrated, evidence-based model and CARF-accredited operations.
• Coastal Behavioral Healthcare (Sarasota): Community-based nonprofit behavioral health provider on Florida's Gulf Coast offering outpatient mental health, substance use, crisis, and case management services — the closest regional direct peer in scale and service mix.
• Lutheran Services Florida: Florida statewide human-services nonprofit providing behavioral health, child welfare, refugee services, and aging programs — comparable nonprofit structure and government-contract funding mix within the same state.
• Operation PAR: Florida-based nonprofit providing substance use treatment, mental health, and family services across the Tampa Bay region — strong overlap with Directions for Living's co-occurring disorders and adult services.

Broad incumbents

• Baycare Behavioral Health: Behavioral health division of BayCare Health System, a large Tampa Bay health system operating inpatient and outpatient mental health services across the same geography; a broader incumbent with overlapping catchment area.

Others

• National Council for Mental Wellbeing: The national membership and training organization that licenses the Mental Health First Aid curriculum; relevant as the certifying body for Directions for Living's flagship training line and as an ecosystem partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/directionsforliving
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/directions-for-living
• Instagraminstagram.com/directionsforliving

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Directions for Living