Are There Rehab Programs For Single Parents?

Single parents often face a significant amount of stress, and chronic stress is a risk factor for substance abuse.

Many single parents with a substance use disorder (SUD) may feel like they don’t have the time or other resources, including childcare options, to seek addiction treatment.

However, unmanaged addiction can lead to a host of mental and physical health problems and can also significantly impact a child’s development, health, and future.

Fortunately, recovering from drug or alcohol addiction as a single parent is more accessible through rehab programs that focus on providing care for single parents.

Options For Single Parents Seeking Addiction Treatment

Finding proper arrangements for children can be stressful, especially if you don’t have many people in your support network to lean on.

The good news is that there are treatment providers available with single parents’ needs in mind. You don’t have to struggle alone, and help is out there.

Inpatient Treatment Options

For single parents facing a severe substance abuse diagnosis, inpatient or residential treatment may be the most appropriate option, where clients live onsite.

Inpatient drug and alcohol treatment options allow for more intensive care and provide 24/7 structure and support for anywhere from a few weeks to a year or longer.

Some residential rehab centers offer onsite childcare services and also allow parents to attend treatment with their young children, usually ages 12 and under.

Speak with a substance abuse treatment center representative to see if they have options for single parents with children. They may have specific resources available to assist.

Outpatient Treatment Options

There are multiple outpatient treatment options available that can be beneficial for single parents who need a more flexible approach to treatment.

For parents with mild or moderate addictions, outpatient treatment can provide tools for healthy habits and coping skills, while allowing clients to return at the end of the day to their own home.

Outpatient options for single parents may include:

• partial hospitalization programs (PHP): Though PHPs have strict scheduling three to five days per week, around six hours per day, clients don’t live onsite.
• intensive outpatient programs (IOP): IOPs are less intensive than PHPs, requiring fewer hours of treatment per week and allowing for more flexibility.
• standard outpatient programs (OP): OPs are the most flexible addiction treatment programs but also the least intensive.

Outpatient programs may also offer evening and weekend treatment options, giving single parents even greater flexibility.

Cost Differences

For single parents concerned about costs, outpatient treatment is typically less expensive than inpatient treatment.

Grants, scholarships, and other financial assistance is available. You may also be able to find free and low-cost addiction treatment through state-run programs, nonprofit organizations, and more.

Many rehab programs also accept Medicaid, which can reduce costs by a large amount, even making some treatment options free.

Childcare Assistance Resources

Finding a babysitter or other childcare services can be very helpful, but can get expensive if you don’t have the resources.

If you don’t have close friends or family members to rely on for help, there are some other options available.

When looking for childcare assistance, dialing 211 can connect you with useful resources. Some states offer community childcare options for parents in alcohol or drug addiction treatment.

Addiction treatment centers may offer social services assistance, which also may be able to connect you with various resources, including childcare options.

Some options for parents in need of childcare support include:

• Safe Families for Children
• childcare subsidies
• grant assistance such as Modest Needs

Support is also available to military members in the following ways:

• Military Child Care In Your Neighborhood (MCCYN)
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) free childcare for disabled veterans in need of medical or mental health care
• Foundation for Women Warriors’ childcare assistance program
• grant assistance such as Village for Veterans

These options can help single parents fund childcare while receiving treatment or access free childcare services.

Find Addiction Treatment Today

If you or a loved one is facing addiction, help is available. Discover treatment options and how to get started with recovery by calling or visiting AddictionResource.net today.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff