Questions to Ask a Treatment Center

Questions to Ask a Treatment Center — The Details

Choosing a treatment center is a decision most families make while they are frightened and short on time. We want to make it easier. The right questions will tell you far more than any brochure, so we encourage you to ask them directly and to expect clear answers.

When you call any center, we suggest you ask about the following:

• Accreditation and licensing: Is the facility state-licensed, and is it accredited by a recognized body such as The Joint Commission or CARF?
• Clinical staffing: Who oversees care, what are their credentials, and how many clients does each clinician carry?
• Family involvement: How will you be included in treatment, and what education is offered to loved ones?
• Aftercare planning: When does discharge planning begin, and what support continues once your family member goes home?
• Measuring outcomes: How does the center track progress, and how do they define success?

A good program welcomes these questions. If answers feel vague or rushed, that itself is useful information. We are glad to walk you through ours.