Africentric Personal Development Shop

What Africentric Personal Development Shop does

Africentric Personal Development Shop (APDS) is a 501(c)(3) behavioral healthcare institution founded in 1988 in Columbus, Ohio, by Drs. Moriba and Barbara Kelsey. The organization delivers a comprehensive continuum of prevention, treatment, and recovery services organized around substance use disorder treatment (including ASAM Level 1 outpatient, ASAM Level 2.1 intensive outpatient, and a four-phase Medication Assisted Treatment program using Vivitrol or Suboxone), mental health services for co-occurring disorders (depression, anxiety, PTSD, Bipolar, ADHD), domestic violence intervention (the AFAR program), and youth development (SMART 2.0 Summer Camp, UCANN violence prevention, Urban GEMS, Personal Development Program, Mindful Reactions anger management). APDS also administers the Mama Kim's Scholarship Fund. Service delivery is grounded in evidence-based modalities — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care — wrapped in a culturally responsive Africentric framework drawing on Kemetic principles (Ma'at, Nguzo Saba, Nonviolent Communication). The organization operates from its 1409 E. Livingston Ave. headquarters and partner sites at 1854 Parsons Avenue and 3500 Refugee Road, serving 117-167 adult clients weekly and 120 youth in summer programming.

APDS sits as the behavioral healthcare arm of the National Center for Urban Solutions (NCUS), a five-organization ecosystem that also includes the African American Male Wellness Agency, Academy for Urban Scholars (where APDS provides school social work), and NCUS TEC workforce training. This positioning enables cross-organization referral pathways spanning education, employment, entrepreneurship, and wellness that differentiate APDS from standalone behavioral health providers. The organization is led by President and CEO Jerry Saunders, who has held the role since 1997 and previously served ten years as Executive Director of the Eldon W. Ward YMCA of Central Ohio.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model: government grants and contracts (primarily from the ADAMH Board of Franklin County, with additional funding from Ohio MHAS, Columbus City Council, Franklin County Commissioners, and Franklin County Juvenile Court), Medicaid and insurance reimbursement on a sliding-scale basis, and donations accepted through a GiveButter portal. Services are offered at no charge or minimal copay based on household income, and APDS serves clients regardless of race, age, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or economic status. Go-to-market is community-led, driven by court referrals, school partnerships, community-based outreach under the NCUS umbrella, and word-of-mouth, with direct intake via phone (614-253-4448) and online appointment scheduling.

Name

Africentric Personal Development Shop

Legal name

Africentric Personal Development Shop, Inc.

Website

https://apdsinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Africentric Personal Development Shop is a Columbus, Ohio 501(c)(3) behavioral healthcare institution founded in 1988 that delivers prevention, treatment, and recovery services for substance use, mental health, domestic violence, and youth development to Franklin County residents using culturally responsive, Africentric clinical modalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Healthcare Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Behavioral healthcare services
• Substance use disorder treatment
• Mental health counseling
• Youth prevention programs
• Community recovery support

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: APDS is primarily funded by the ADAMH Board of Franklin County (Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board). Additional contracts from Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (Ohio MHAS), Columbus City Council, Franklin County Commissioners, and Franklin County Juvenile Court.
2. Insurance Reimbursement: Services billed to Medicaid and other major insurance plans. APDS accepts most major insurances including Medicaid and self-pay clients.
3. Donations and Philanthropy: 501(c)(3) nonprofit accepts donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Primary donation portal at givebutter.com/APDSgive23.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Africentric Personal Development Shop (APDS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit behavioral healthcare institution that delivers prevention, treatment, and recovery services for substance use disorders, mental health conditions, domestic violence, and youth development. The organization offers evidence-based clinical services including outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment, medication assisted treatment (Vivitrol/Suboxone), counseling, case management, and culturally tailored programs such as the Africentric Rites of Passage and Mindful Reactions anger management. Services are delivered on-site in Columbus, Ohio, at partner community sites, and through virtual/hybrid formats on a sliding-scale basis.

Product overview

APDS is a family-centered behavioral healthcare institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs organized across three service pillars: Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery. Prevention programs include Domestic Violence Education & Intervention, APDS SMART 2.0 Summer Camp, UCANN (Unified Community and Neighborhood Network), Urban GEMS, Personal Development Program, and Anger Management (Mindful Reactions). Treatment programs include SUD Outpatient Treatment (ASAM Level 1), SUD Intensive Outpatient Program (ASAM Level 2.1), Medication Assisted Treatment, Substance Use Disorder Case Management, Mental Health Treatment, and Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment. Recovery programs include Aftercare Programs, Peer Recovery Support, and Grief and Loss Peer Support Group. Additionally, the Mama Kim's Scholarship provides post-secondary educational funding. All services are delivered with an Africentric approach, incorporating culturally responsive principles from Kemetic thought.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• APDS SMART 2.0 Summer Camp: A 9-week summer day camp for 120 youth ages 6 to 12 with emphasis on academic enhancement, social emotional learning, and character counts development.
• UCANN (Unified Community and Neighborhood Network)
• Urban GEMS (Gardening Entrepreneurs Motivating Sustainability)
• Mama Kim's Scholarship
• AFAR (APDS Freedom From Abusive Relationships)
• Mindful Reactions (Anger Management)

Products and services

• SUD Outpatient Treatment (ASAM Level 1) Low-intensity outpatient substance use disorder treatment requiring two 2-hour group sessions per week plus individual counseling sessions for adults with substance use disorders.
• SUD Intensive Outpatient Program (ASAM Level 2.1) High-intensity 12-week education, intervention, and treatment program with three 3-hour group sessions per week for individuals with substance use disorders.
• Medication Assisted Treatment (M.A.T.) Four-phase program prescribing Vivitrol or Suboxone combined with counseling for adults 18+ to achieve and maintain abstinence from substance abuse.
• Substance Use Disorder Case Management Services helping individuals access medical, social, educational, and other essential services including housing assistance, financial assistance, and criminal justice coordination.
• Mental Health Treatment Dual diagnosis and co-occurring treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, Bipolar, and ADHD using motivational interviewing, CBT, DBT, and trauma-focused therapy.
• Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Treatment for alcohol use disorders using motivational interviewing and talk therapy to help clients regain control and develop healthy coping strategies.
• Domestic Violence Education & Intervention (AFAR) Prevention education classes for male and female perpetrators (18 years and older) addressing domestic violence intervention and prevention.
• APDS SMART 2.0 Summer Camp A 9-week summer day camp for 120 youth ages 6-12 offering Science-Social learning, Mentoring-Math, AOD prevention-Art, Reading-Recreation, and Technology-Travel.
• UCANN (Unified Community and Neighborhood Network) A youth violence prevention program equipping young people ages 11-22 with tools to become champions of nonviolence and create safe communities.
• Urban GEMS (Gardening Entrepreneurs Motivating Sustainability) A youth development initiative using aeroponic food production to teach academic enrichment, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and community service to youth ages 12-19.
• Personal Development Program Life skills education program for youth ages 9-17 incorporating an Africentric Rites of Passage component for self-esteem development.
• Anger Management (Mindful Reactions) A 12-week prevention course helping teenagers and young adults build emotional control and manage anger using the Resiliency Model and Africentric principles.
• Aftercare Programs Flexible aftercare programming providing ongoing counseling, peer support groups, life skills education, and relapse prevention planning for clients completing primary treatment.
• Peer Recovery Support Community-based service delivered by persons in recovery from mental health or substance use disorders, providing mentorship, resource navigation, and skill building.
• Grief and Loss Peer Support Group Weekly 2-hour support group helping participants acknowledge grief, develop coping skills, strengthen social support, and rebuild meaning after significant losses.
• Mama Kim's Scholarship The Millicent 'Mama Kim' Dixon Scholarship Fund providing financial assistance to young people ages 17-22 enrolled in post-secondary education with a 3.0 GPA.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 27,000 individuals and families since 1988
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Center for Urban Solutions (NCUS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCUS is the parent and management company for a family of 5 organizations including APDS. APDS serves as the behavioral healthcare arm, providing substance use disorder, mental health, and domestic violence services. NCUS provides administrative infrastructure and integrated service delivery across education, workforce development, and wellness programs.
• African American Male Wellness AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates under the NCUS umbrella alongside APDS. Dedicated to eliminating health disparities among Black men through wellness events, screenings, and community programs. Both organizations collaborate on addressing behavioral health and wellness needs.
• Franklin County Court SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPDS provides treatment and intervention services for justice-involved individuals referred through Franklin County courts. The organization coordinates with the criminal justice system to ensure continuity of care.
• Academy for Urban Scholars (AUS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPDS provides school social work services at this non-traditional charter high school serving grades 9-12. Partnership delivers social-emotional support, behavioral intervention, and case management for students.
• Millennium Community SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity school partnership where APDS delivers SMART 2.0 Summer Camp and Urban GEMS programming at the 3500 Refugee Road campus.
• Compassionate Communication Center of OhiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed community resource partner providing Nonviolent Communication (NVC) facilitation. APDS incorporates NVC principles into programming including the Mindful Reactions anger management curriculum.
• Franklin County Children ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty agency coordinating child welfare services. APDS collaborates with FCCS to provide family-centered services and coordinate care for affected families.
• NCUS TECminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-assisted post-secondary career college under NCUS providing technology and manufacturing training. Partnership supports workforce development pathways for APDS clients in recovery.
• Women's Center for Economic Opportunity (WCEO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed community resource partner focused on economic advancement of women, especially women of color, through financial capacity building and entrepreneurial readiness programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP): National nonprofit providing youth behavioral health, family preservation, and juvenile justice services with a strong Ohio presence. Comparable in youth violence prevention and community-based behavioral services, though operating at national scale.
• Equitas Health: Ohio-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, primary care, and case management with a community-equity lens across multiple cities. Comparable as a community-embedded behavioral health nonprofit but operates at much larger scale and broader scope.
• OhioGuidestone: Large Ohio-headquartered behavioral health and social services nonprofit offering counseling, substance use treatment, and youth/family programs statewide. Comparable in service breadth but materially larger and broader than APDS.

Direct peers

• Southeast Healthcare: Franklin County-based nonprofit providing mental health, substance use, primary care, and homeless services with sliding-scale access. Closely comparable community behavioral health peer serving overlapping ADAMH-funded populations.
• The Village Network: Ohio-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, substance use, and community-based programs for youth and families, including juvenile justice and prevention services. Directly comparable mission and population, with multi-site Ohio footprint.
• CompDrug: Columbus-based nonprofit providing outpatient substance use treatment, MAT, and recovery support under ADAMH funding. Closely comparable outpatient SUD/MAT service model and funding structure.
• Maryhaven: Central Ohio's oldest and largest nonprofit addiction and behavioral health provider, also ADAMH-funded and offering ASAM-level outpatient, MAT, and recovery services in Columbus. Directly comparable in service mix, geography, and funding model to APDS.
• North Central Mental Health Services: Franklin County ADAMH-funded community mental health center providing outpatient behavioral health, case management, and crisis services. Closely comparable public-sector behavioral health peer serving overlapping Columbus populations.
• Community for New Direction: Columbus nonprofit providing substance use prevention, youth development, and community-based behavioral health programs. Comparable in target population (urban, predominantly African American) and ADAMH-funded prevention mix.

Regional players

• Amethyst Inc. Columbus-based nonprofit providing alcohol and drug treatment, prevention, and recovery support with strong ADAMH funding ties. Comparable SUD focus and regional footprint, though broader geographic reach than APDS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/p/APDS-Africentric-Personal-Development-Shop-Inc-100039256164622
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apdsinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/apdsohio
• Xx.com/apds2012

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Africentric Personal Development Shop