Whole-child care. Community at heart.
STRONGER CHILDREN.SUPPORTED FAMILIES.HEALTHIER FUTURES.
Every child deserves to feel understood. We provide compassionate behavioral health support for children, young people, and families in the Columbus area.
Schools & community organizations: Partner With Us
Rooted in dignity. Guided by each child’s strengths.
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For families
You know your child. We’re here to listen and help you explore support.
Request Services -
For care coordinators & providers
Begin a referral inquiry for one child, a family, or several clients.
Refer a Client -
For schools & community partners
Let’s explore practical ways to support the young people you serve.
Partner With Us
The Life Center Columbus
SEEN.
HEARD.
SUPPORTED.
Children bring their whole lives into every room. Their support should make room for that, too.
We are a community-centered outpatient behavioral health organization serving children, young people, and families. We listen to what is happening at home, at school, and in everyday life, then help identify support that fits.
Our mission is to promote emotional wellness, resilience, and positive life outcomes through accessible prevention, early intervention, and supportive behavioral health services.
Your family’s voice matters.
And the next step matters.
How we help
CARE THAT MEETS
THE MOMENT.
From understanding a child’s needs to practicing skills for everyday life, support begins with the individual.
CANS assessment
A structured conversation about a young person’s strengths, needs, relationships, and supports. It helps guide care planning and may inform OhioRISE eligibility.
Diagnostic assessment
A qualified professional takes time to understand a child’s behavioral health needs and identify an appropriate course of treatment.
Individual & family care
Licensed behavioral health professionals help children and caregivers strengthen coping, communication, relationships, and daily functioning.
Therapeutic behavioral support
Individualized skill-building helps young people manage emotions, respond to challenges, and work toward practical goals.
Structured group services
Age-appropriate therapeutic groups offer a place to practice social skills, emotional regulation, problem-solving, and healthy decision-making.
School & community support
Collaboration with caregivers, care coordinators, schools, and child-serving partners helps connect support around a young person.
The Resilience Program
SMALL SKILLS.
STRONGER
TOMORROWS.
Big feelings can be hard to navigate. Our structured therapeutic groups, designed primarily for elementary-age children, create an encouraging place to learn, practice, and grow.
- Understanding emotions
- Building social skills
- Strengthening self-esteem
- Communicating needs
- Solving problems
- Building healthy relationships
Enrollment depends on program fit, required consent, eligibility, authorization, capacity, and completion of intake.
Our approach
THE CHILD AT
THE CENTER.
ALWAYS.
Compassion is where we begin. Thoughtful planning, practical skills, and connected support guide what comes next.
Start with strengths
We look for what a child can build on: interests, abilities, relationships, and the progress already happening.
Listen to families
Caregivers bring knowledge no assessment can replace. Your experience helps shape meaningful goals.
Lead with dignity
Every child and family deserves respect, a welcoming space, and room to be heard.
Plan with purpose
Assessment and individualized planning help identify appropriate services and practical next steps.
Build everyday skills
We focus on coping, communication, emotional awareness, and relationships that matter beyond a session.
Connect the circle
With appropriate consent, we work with the people supporting a child at home, at school, and in the community.
What happens after you contact us
THE FIRST STEP.
TAKEN TOGETHER.
You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Here is how the process works.
Reach out
Start a brief service or referral request, then review and send it from your email app. You can also call our team to discuss the support you’re looking for.
Talk through the next step
We review age, needs, location, and availability, then contact the family about consent, eligibility, benefits, and assessment steps.
Connect to appropriate support
When intake and assessment are complete, services can begin based on identified needs, program fit, required authorization, and capacity.
Prefer to speak with someone? Call 614.812.1330, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Eastern, to ask about services or the intake process. A request starts a review; it does not guarantee enrollment or an appointment.
OhioRISE, CANS & coverage
CLARITY
BEFORE CARE.
OhioRISE is Ohio’s specialized Medicaid managed care program for children and youth with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs.
The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths assessment, or CANS, brings a child’s strengths, needs, relationships, and current supports into one shared picture. It informs planning; it is not a diagnosis.
Request a CANS AssessmentWhat families can expect
A respectful conversation
A trained assessor listens to both the child and caregiver, including what is going well and where help is needed.
Benefits checked before services
Tell us about your child’s insurance and current supports. Our team will review eligibility, benefits, and any required authorization for the requested service.
Care that connects
If your child has an OhioRISE care coordinator, let them know you are requesting Life Center services. With consent, we can coordinate next steps with the care team.
An intake or CANS assessment does not enroll a child in Ohio Medicaid or OhioRISE and does not guarantee enrollment, authorization, coverage, or payment. Coverage varies by plan and service; ask our team about your child’s benefits.
Care coordinators & providers
A CLEAR WAY
TO CONNECT.
You help families navigate complex systems. Our referral process is designed to help identify appropriate support and keep the family involved.
The Life Center Columbus, LLCOrganization NPI: 1720967250
Begin with a referral inquiry
Care coordinators, healthcare providers, schools, and community partners have a dedicated referral inquiry. You can discuss one client or the process for several referrals.
- Share your name, agency, and professional contact information.
- Select the service requested and tell us whether the family is aware of the inquiry.
- Indicate whether you would like to discuss OhioRISE care coordination.
- Review and send the inquiry from your email app. Our team will explain the next steps for client details, records, and required family consent.
Keep the circle of care connected
For a child already enrolled in OhioRISE, connect with the assigned care coordinator about the requested services and the Child and Family-Centered Care Plan.
With the family’s consent, our team can discuss coordination and participation in the Child and Family Team, as appropriate.
The website inquiry uses the referrer’s professional contact information only. Keep client names, dates of birth, guardian contact details, insurance IDs, and clinical records out of the initial email. Call us to arrange an appropriate way to provide that information and complete the referral.
Schools & community organizations
STRONGER SUPPORT
STARTS TOGETHER.
The people who see a child every day can make a meaningful difference. We welcome conversations with schools and community organizations about connected behavioral health support.
- Discuss the needs of your students or community.
- Explore referral pathways and potential collaboration.
- Clarify service fit, consent, capacity, and coordination before moving forward.
Your email opens a partnership conversation with our leadership. Please include your organization and preferred contact information.
Frequently asked questions
GOOD QUESTIONS.
CLEAR ANSWERS.
Starting care can bring questions. We want the next step to feel understandable and approachable.
Who can request services?
Parents, legal guardians, caregivers, schools, care coordinators, providers, and approved community partners may begin a referral. The appropriate parent or legal guardian must complete required consent before services begin.
What ages do you serve?
Age ranges vary by service. The Resilience Program is designed primarily for elementary-age children. Send a request or contact our team to discuss a child’s age, needs, and the support currently available.
What happens after I request services?
The brief request form prepares an email for you to review and send from your email app. After we receive it, our team contacts you to discuss service needs, location, availability, insurance or self-pay fees, and the appropriate intake and consent steps. Services depend on clinical appropriateness, required authorization, and program capacity.
Do you accept my child’s insurance?
Select insurance in your initial request or call our team. Share plan details through the full intake when requested. We verify eligibility, benefits, and authorization requirements for the requested services before care begins. Coverage varies by plan, service, and practitioner; an intake does not guarantee coverage or payment.
Can I pay for services myself?
Yes, you can ask about paying directly. Select self-pay in the brief service request or call 614.812.1330. Our team will discuss service fit, availability, applicable fees, and payment arrangements. No insurance card or payment is needed to make an inquiry.
What are your hours?
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Eastern time. Call 614.812.1330 or email info@lifecentercolumbus.com. Appointment availability is discussed during intake.
Does intake enroll my child in OhioRISE?
No. The Life Center intake starts our review process only. OhioRISE enrollment depends on Medicaid eligibility, applicable program criteria, assessment information, and other requirements. A CANS assessment does not guarantee enrollment or service authorization.
What happens during a CANS assessment?
A trained assessor speaks with the young person and caregiver about strengths, needs, relationships, daily life, and current supports. The information helps guide care planning and appropriate connections. CANS is not a diagnosis.
Can care coordinators, schools, and providers refer clients?
Yes. Use Refer a Client to share your agency and professional contact information, the service requested, and whether the family is aware of the inquiry. The page prepares an email for you to review and send; our team then explains how to provide client-specific information and complete the referral. Required parent or legal-guardian consent and all applicable intake steps must be completed before services begin.
Is this website for emergency help?
No. This website, intake form, email, and routine contact channels are not monitored as emergency services. See our immediate help information for emergency and crisis contacts.
Take the next step
A BETTER DAY
CAN START HERE.
Whether you are seeking support for your child or helping a family connect to care, there is a place to begin.
Submission begins The Life Center Columbus intake process only. It does not enroll anyone in Ohio Medicaid or OhioRISE and does not guarantee eligibility, program acceptance, an appointment, authorization, coverage, or payment. Eligibility and benefits will be verified before services begin.