What Is A State-Approved Rehab Program?
What does it mean to have a state-approved treatment center or rehabilitation facility? Often times when there are legal issues involved, such as a DUI, possession charge, etc., then the courts will require a person to complete a treatment program at an approved facility. Many people mistake this as being a state-run center, but it is typically not limited to such places.
Each state has a department responsible for inspecting and certifying or licensing treatment programs according to the laws within that state. It could be under a health department, human services, mental health, children and families, or whatever the local name for it is. Sometimes there will be a license for the building occupancy in addition to the state certification for providing services.
There are also two national accreditation boards that work with treatment centers. One organization is called the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), and it is geared more toward hospital and medical-type facilities. The other one is called the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and is often more in line with residential rehab programs that aren't hospital-based.
If a treatment center has one or more of the licenses, certifications or accreditations from the agencies listed above, then it can usually be submitted for approval by the court, whether in-state or out-of-state.