CDS is a non-profit organization that has produced quality, innovative, and progressive programs since 1970. Originating from a group of UF professors that noticed a need in the community for substance abuse treatment and prevention for adults and children establishing the Corner Drug Store as a community Service agency.

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Our Timeline:

           

In 1970 the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act led to the opening of the first Interface Youth Program, one of the first 60 shelters in the US and the first residential program in the Northwest Region. CDS became the official sponsor of the Safe Place Program and together with the Interface Program provided a Safe Place location for all youth ages 10-17 who were runaways, homeless, truant, trafficked, or needed any other type of help.

 

During this time our prevention program expanded to include teen suicide prevention, the Alpha program in Elementary schools that was an academic program with a counseling component that eventually grew into Middle Schools. This also expanded into substance abuse prevention programs in Elementary and Middle Schools.

 

In 1983 the agency sponsored its first chemical-free annual all-night celebration for all graduating seniors known as Project Graduation. This program lasted for the next twenty years and during this time there were no alcohol-related causalities from any graduating seniors in Alachua County.

 

In 1987 a new horizons program was introduced known as the family action program which became a non-residential counseling program for youth 6-17.

 

In 1996 Interface and Family action programs expanded its services to eleven countries and the year after the agency open an additional shelter in Palatka followed by the next year opening of an additional facility in Lake City, FL.

 

In 2000 the agency introduced Spotlight on Youth a celebration of the Arts that highlighted the talents of children in Alachua County that became an annual event for the organization until 2017.

 

In 2003 the Independent Living program was added that provided support to young adults ages 16-22 transitioning out of the foster care system.

 

In 2007 the Corner Drug Store changed its name to CDS Family & Behavioral Health Services, Inc and started covering fourteen counties in Florida.

 

In 2013 CDS moved to strengthen prevention programs and move away from substance abuse treatments and increase our prevention programs in Alachua and Levy County.

 

In 2016 CDS added the S.N.A.P program funded by the Florida Network and in 2019 the program expanded to S.N.A.P in schools.

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2022 Philip Kabler takes the role as CEO and Cindy Starling as COO.

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2023 CDS rebrands with a new logo, vision, and goal for the future.