Directions for Living

10/14/2026

We’re ! Directions for Living is seeking a Supervisor of Treatment Works to join our team. Our Treatment Works program provides intensive, wraparound support for youth ages 5–18 experiencing a mental health crisis or significant emotional and behavioral challenges. In partnership with the Pinellas County School System, the program helps families find stability, keep youth safely at home, and support their success in school.

You’ll join a high-performing, award-winning team known for excellence, innovation, and meaningful impact. We’re looking for a driven, compassionate professional who’s ready to collaborate with talented colleagues, grow their expertise, and help redefine what high-quality care can look like.

If you’re looking for a career where your work makes a difference, we’d love to hear from you! Learn more about this opportunity and explore our other open positions at https://directionsforliving.org/careers/.

10/13/2026

We’re proud to be at Benchmark International Arena today for the 5th Annual Strike the Stigma Symposium, hosted by Florida Blue in partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning! 💙⚡️

For the fifth year, Directions for Living is honored to be part of this powerful event, bringing together high school students from across Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties for meaningful conversations about mental health.

Our team is leading a Teen Mental Health First Aid Olympics workshop - getting students up, moving, and embracing their competitive spirit while learning how to recognize when someone may need support, how to respond, and where to turn for help.

We’re grateful to be part of a day focused on breaking down stigma, building connection, and giving young people the tools to support themselves and one another. Thank you to Florida Blue and the Tampa Bay Lightning for continuing to bring our community together for this important conversation!

10/09/2026

Our President & CEO, April Lott, joined Central Florida Behavioral Health Network on Tampa Bay's Morning Blend yesterday to talk about how behavioral health needs in our community have changed over the years, the importance of Mental Health First Aid, and how Directions for Living supports children and families throughout the holiday season.

We’re grateful to CFBHN for taking the time to spotlight the important work of their service providers and give April the opportunity to share more about the amazing things Directions for Living is doing for our community. Watch here now:

CFBHN is proud to partner with Directions For Living whose motto is...

10/08/2026

We’re celebrating a big honor for Directions for Living’s fundraiser, the PB&J Run, which has been named Creative Loafing Tampa’s Best of the Bay for Best Running or Walking Event!

Our VP of Communications and Development and PB&J Run Race Director, Summer Gray, celebrated the win at last night’s Best of the Bay party in St. Pete. We couldn’t be prouder of her and the entire PB&J Run team!

What an incredible way to celebrate the 10th year of this amazing event. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who voted, participated, volunteered, sponsored, cheered us on, and helped make the PB&J Run such a beloved part of our community.

10/06/2026

We’re proud to have several members of the Directions for Living team attending the Florida Supportive Housing Coalition Summit this week! The summit brings together professionals working to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness, housing instability, disability, child welfare involvement, and other challenges that can impact access to safe, stable housing. It’s a valuable opportunity to learn, connect, and share ideas about strengthening supportive housing across Florida.

We’re especially proud that our President & CEO, April Lott, served as the keynote speaker for the opening general session. April’s message focused on an often-overlooked part of the supportive housing conversation: the people on the front lines. As funding changes and uncertainty place added pressure on the field, she addressed the realities of secondary trauma, moral injury, burnout, and the importance of supporting the workforce that supports others.

We’re grateful to be part of this important conversation and to continue learning alongside partners from across Florida.

10/05/2026

Last week, our President & CEO, April Lott joined the 2026 Tampa Bay TITAN 100 class for the official Kick Off Reception at The Karol Hotel.

It was a great evening of connecting with fellow leaders, sharing stories, and celebrating the opportunity to learn and grow alongside an incredible group of Tampa Bay professionals.

We’re proud to see April recognized among this year’s Titan 100 and we’re looking forward to following her Titan journey throughout the year!

10/02/2026

A few months ago, Directions for Living launched a Women’s Wellness Initiative at both of our facilities, providing complimentary feminine hygiene products for team members and clients.

We’re grateful to I Support the Girls - Tampa Bay for helping make this initiative possible. Through their generous partnership, we receive monthly donations of tampons, pads, and, liners for our restrooms, helping ensure these essential products are available when they’re needed. And their generosity goes even further. I Support the Girls – Tampa Bay also provides new underwear and bras to help meet the needs of individuals and families served through our Housing and Families First divisions.

At its heart, this initiative is about dignity and access. Having basic necessities readily available helps remove one more barrier and creates an environment where people feel supported, respected, and cared for.

We’re so grateful for how well this initiative has been received and, most importantly, for the genuine appreciation we’ve heard from the people we serve and our team members.

Thank you, I Support The Girls - Tampa Bay, for helping us create a more comfortable, supportive, and dignified experience for everyone who walks through our doors.

09/30/2026

Sometimes, you get to see the impact of your work come full circle.

On Friday, Sept. 18, Michael officially graduated from Directions for Living’s Mental Health Court program. Throughout his time in the program, one of Michael’s biggest goals was building social supports, becoming more comfortable in social settings, and gaining greater independence.

Michael’s family has been incredibly supportive throughout his journey, and at his graduation, his dad shared the story of the challenges their family had faced since adopting Michael as a young child. He talked about the decades they had spent trying to help Michael find stability and independence; and told our team that, in 18 months, we had accomplished what their family had been working toward for decades.

And then, the very next morning, Michael and his brother showed up for Directions for Living’s fundraiser, the PB&J Run, and completed the entire 10K together!

The funds raised through this event help make programs like Mental Health Court possible. And during that incredible weekend, we got to see that impact firsthand: a client graduating with his family cheering him on, then returning the very next morning with his brother to participate in the event that helps make this work possible.

Congratulations, Michael! We’re so proud of you!

09/29/2026

As Su***de Prevention Month comes to a close, celebrating Lawrence is a reminder to cherish life, build community, and make sure no one ever feels alone. Happy Birthday, Lawrence 💙

09/28/2026

10 years. $750,000 raised. Countless lives impacted.

Our 10th Annual PB&J Run presented by Higginbotham was one for the books! We’re so grateful to everyone who came out last week to celebrate a decade of this special event and support the work of Directions for Living.

Over the past 10 years, the PB&J Run has raised more than $750,000 to help little ones who are living homeless, individuals experiencing mental illness, families who are struggling to put food on the table, and people who are experiencing other traumas in Pinellas County. That’s more than a race-day accomplishment - it’s an investment in our community that will continue making a difference long after the finish line.

To our sponsors, runners, volunteers, vendors, and everyone who helped bring the PB&J Run to life: thank you. This event truly wouldn’t be possible without you, and we’re so grateful to have such an incredible community behind us!

We can’t wait to see what the next decade will bring! 💜 You can view all of the pictures from the event at pbjrun.com/2026-race-photos.