Keeping Families Connected

Since 1997, Life Connections has been on a mission to keep kids out of jail and keep families connected. We believe in creating the conditions for youth to develop stong as well as the homes in which they live. We do this through our signature DASH (Developing Adolescents, Strengthening Homes) programs.

At Life Connections, we don't just provide answers; we help young people and their families discover their own solutions to the challenges they face. Our programs are built on a foundation of restorative practices, taking a two-generational approach that supports the entire family. Every program is backed by research and tailored to meet the unique needs of our community.

Since our inception, we've had the privilege of working with over 6,500 individuals, launching 19 programs across 13 North Carolina counties. We are committed to fostering positive change and building stronger, healthier communities, one family at a time.

Our Programs

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Objective

Form strong connections with all whom we serve

Guiding Principles

PROFESSIONALISM

Ethical Practices
Technical Proficiency

TEAMWORK

Building Cooperation and Collaboration
Creating Trust-Based Relationships

INTEGRITY

Identifying What You Believe and Living It
Being Accountable for One's Actions

COMPASSION

Others Act With Positive Intent
Mistakes Provide Opportunity for Growth

Our Programs

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MEET OUR TEAM

Glenn Smith

Executive Director & Founder

For Glenn M. Smith, the mission to "keep kids out of jail and keep families connected" isn’t just a professional tagline—it is a life’s work that began more than fifty years ago with a single act of community mobilization.

In 1974, while most 21-year-olds were focusing on their final years of college, Glenn was busy organizing students and community members in Buckhannon, West Virginia. His goal was radical for the time: to prove that at-risk youth didn’t need bars; they needed a home. He founded The New Dawn Youth Center, West Virginia’s very first community-based group home. This early success catapulted him into leadership, and by the age of 22, he was elected President of the West Virginia Child Care Association to find ways to begin similar programs.

Glenn’s early hands-on experience was soon bolstered by rigorous academic training. At Cornell University, while earning his Master of Professional Studies in Human Development and Family Studies, he worked on the front lines for the New York State Division of Youth. This period sharpened his understanding of the systemic challenges facing families, a perspective he brought with him to North Carolina in 1981.