APDS Definition of Africentric
APDS believes we all need a place to belong; a place where we genuinely care about one another; where we treat each other with love, open communication, support; and share in decisions. APDS nurtures children, supports families, and strengthens society. The following statements are the guiding principles of APDS:
- Values - Our character shows in our behavior that exhibits how we practice our values. APDS develops character by demonstrating and teaching the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. These values, derived from the Nguzo Saba (seven principles), which embrace both spiritual and scientific concepts that form a blueprint for a moral and ethical foundation.
- Family – The family is society’s primary unit for raising children, giving back to elders, and maintaining values. APDS supports all people in their efforts to be responsible parents concerned with the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of their children. APDS supplies a safe, wholesome environment in which children, parents, and grandparents can learn to communicate and grow together.
- Self-esteem – APDS builds self-esteem and nurtures a sense of accomplishment in those we serve. Self-esteem helps you to make the right choices by acting out of strength and treating yourself and others with respect. Appreciating your own worth can make the difference between dependency and self-reliance.
- Volunteerism – Volunteering is a demonstration of caring for others. You’ll find it at the core of APDS as demonstrated by our Board of Trustees. APDS offers people a chance to get involved in community life by running programs, making policies, raising money and solving neighborhood problems. By giving their time, volunteers also give themselves a chance to learn and grow.
- Health – Understanding our bodies and using them well is essential to good physical and mental health. Such awareness promotes lifestyles that help us resist illness, addictions and disease. APDS promotes good health for all people. Good health allows everyone to enjoy the goodness of life.
- Respect – APDS operates from an Africentric perspective that focuses on a close and strong relationship with our creator, ancestors, families, and community. We demonstrate the principles of Nguzo Saba and the laws of MA’AT (the dynamic principles of right, truth, and justice) in the way we treat customers, visitors, and ourselves.
- Excellence – APDS believes that serving people is serving “the Creator.” Excellence in service to our customers is our number one goal.
Many descendants of Africans born in America suffer daily from the multigenerational trauma caused by the ill effects of African American ancestors being kidnapped and brainwashed of their history and culture. When you add alcohol and drug abuse to the equation and consider the devastating effects these chemicals have on individuals and communities, the result is a community that has fell short in its attempt to work collectively on its own behalf. Consequently, African Americans experience many individual career successes, however, our successes as a collective group are few because we lack strategic planning, fortitude, and commitment to ourselves as a collective group. Therefore, any substance abuse program that aims to produce chemical-free, healthy and wholesome African Americans must address these problems concurrently.
The goals of our alcohol and other drugs out patient treatment program are as follows:
- For clients to gain a firm understanding of addiction, its' consequences and the recovery process
- For clients to gain a greater sense of culture, community, and self-respect
- For clients to gain a healthy view of their cultural identity through a journey of self-exploration
- For clients to begin to set healthy boundaries and develop an internal locus of control
- For clients to reduce feelings of isolation that occur in cross cultural treatment settings
- For clients to maintain sobriety and develop solid support systems for continued sobriety
The APDS Board of Trustees and Staff have committed to channel resources towards the prevention, treatment, and elimination of substance abuse and violence. Without a doubt, APDS is a unique asset to Franklin County and impacts critical issues that must be addressed to continue improving the quality of life in Central Ohio.
Please contact our office if we can be of help and/or if you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to our 501C3 organization. Thanks for visiting our website.
Peace and blessings,
Jerry Saunders
President and Chief Executive Officer
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