Can I Bring My Child With Me To Rehab?

Finding addiction treatment as a mother can be especially challenging when childcare is a concern. Many women delay or avoid getting help for substance abuse because they don’t have anyone to care for their children while they’re in treatment. Fortunately, some addiction treatment centers recognize this and offer programs that allow mothers to bring their children with them. These specialized mother-child programs make it possible for women to receive the treatment they need without being separated from their kids.

Whether a treatment center allows children depends on several factors including the type of program, available resources, and the ages of the children. Policies vary significantly from one facility to another, with some offering full residential programs where mothers and children live together on-site, while others may only accommodate children in outpatient settings.

Addiction Treatment Centers That Allow Children

Finding a drug rehab center that allows you to bring your child or children along with you during treatment can be difficult, but options do exist. Typically, whether or not your child can come with you may depend on the level of care provided.

For instance, parents attending outpatient programs or intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are often advised to leave their children at home with a spouse or take them to a daycare center. Residential and inpatient programs, where clients live onsite for weeks or months, may provide room and board for mothers and their children.

Benefits Of Bringing Your Child With You To A Rehab Program

There are many benefits to bringing your child with you while receiving treatment for a substance use disorder (SUD). Being close to your child and knowing that your child is being cared for can ease anxiety as well as provide motivation for completing the rehab program.

Family therapy programs, which sometimes allow older children to participate, can also provide healing when a client’s family life has suffered from the complications of substance abuse.

Challenges And Limitations

Although many parents want to bring their children with them to a rehab center, there are some limitations and drawbacks, including that fathers typically aren’t allowed to bring their child.

Also, treatment centers that can accommodate mothers and their children are fairly rare, largely because of resource limitations. The cost of these programs can also be a concern, especially if you do not have health insurance.

What To Look For In Mother-Child Addiction Treatment Programs

When searching for a rehab center that allows children, there are important factors to consider to ensure both you and your child receive proper care and support. Look for facilities that provide on-site childcare with qualified staff, age-appropriate activities and educational programs for children, safe and clean living spaces designed for families, and pediatric medical care if your child becomes ill during your stay. The best programs offer parenting classes and education to help you develop healthy parenting skills while in recovery, family therapy that addresses how addiction has affected your relationship with your child, and a flexible schedule.

Ask specific questions when contacting treatment centers, such as what ages of children they accept, whether there are limits on how many children can stay with you, what childcare is provided during therapy sessions and group activities, and whether the program offers specialized services for pregnant women or mothers with infants. Find out if the facility has experience working with mothers and children, what the staff-to-child ratio is for supervision, and whether meals and activities are family-friendly.

Finding Childcare Support During Addiction Treatment

If you cannot bring your child or children with you to a rehab center, you have a few options available regarding where they can stay temporarily. First, you may be able to leave your child with your spouse, an adult sibling, your parents, or another trusted family member.

In the event that no immediate or extended family is available, you might consider asking a reliable friend who also has kids, especially if your kids already know each other. Another option is to arrange childcare at a childcare center during the day, giving family members or friends who are providing care for your child more freedom.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff