CDI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission of helping individuals whose personal history or status in society has resulted in particular difficulty in achieving personal goals, independence and well being.  CDI provides services of support to help individuals and families realize economic stability, self-reliance, and healthy families.  Our organization currently operates programs in Pennsylvania and Michigan. 

The Suited for Work Programs available in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Chester, PA provide individualized appointments to assist individuals in preparing for their job interview or new employment.  Professional clothing, uniforms, hygiene, personal presentation, and basic workplace expectations.  All services are free of cost for referred clients. 

The programs are funded by the State of Pennsylvania, Department of Human Services - A PA WorkWear Program, as well as contracted referring agencies.

CDI also operates the Family Literacy Program in Detroit, Michigan.  Through music, art, storytelling, movement, and play-based techniques we provide the skills and modeling to empower parents and caregivers to administer early childhood literacy education in their homes, in their children's lives.  Every component of the Family Literacy Program - 

             The Book Ownership Program, Family Evenings, and Intensive Literacy Outreach -

is designed to assist parents & caregivers in becoming their children's first and most important educator.  The techniques we model are especially useful for parents that may not have strong literacy skills or consider themselves illiterate.

The Family Literacy Program is funded by Grow Up Great, The PNC Foundation, Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and a parntership with Educational Data Systems Inc., a Michigan Works! Affiliate. 

CDI has recently expanded its outreach to include therapy, group workshops and life coaching for at-risk youth, adults and families.  

Click here to download our IRS 990 form in PDF format.

For several years prior to the founding of CDI many dedicated individuals, each with decades of experience assisting low-income and at-risk families, discussed the limitations of support provided through current programs. “If only we could offer. . .” was a common theme of these discussions. Consistently legislature limits the services and the period services are available. As a result, programs have an engaged population that has been successful in certain areas, for instance obtaining quality employment, but efforts to help that individual move forward further, such as financial literacy and home ownership education cannot be provided because the term of service limited by government funding.

Our Organization is made up of a diverse group of individuals with backgrounds in business, social work, psychology, public administration and workplace productivity. We are driven by research and closely manage our budget and bottom line. CDI was created to provide support for the situations that government legislation does not account for. Our leadership, staff and board members are committed to completing each project on time and within budget.