Aftercare
Aftercare, or continuing care, is the support a person receives after completing a primary episode of addiction treatment, such as outpatient sessions, recovery housing, peer groups and alumni programs, to help sustain recovery.
Also called continuing care, alumni program
- Last reviewed
- 1 source, linked
- 4 related terms
What it means
Recovery is long term, so finishing a residential stay or an IOP is a transition, not a finish line. Aftercare plans usually start before discharge and set out the next level of care, appointments, medications, housing and who to call.
The fourth edition of the ASAM Criteria formalizes part of this with a new Level 1.0, long-term remission monitoring, for people in stable recovery who benefit from periodic check-ins.
Alumni programs are the part families see: groups, events and peer mentors. They also keep former patients connected to the center, which is where honest word of mouth comes from.
Why it matters for your website
An aftercare page answers the question a family asks before admission: what happens when this ends? Describe the discharge plan, the step-down options, alumni activities and how long support continues.
Alumni can be a center's best source of honest referrals and reviews, as long as nothing is paid for them. Make it easy to stay in touch, and never offer anything of value in exchange for a referral or a review.
Sources
The facts on this page about a law, a regulator, a clinical standard or a platform come from these sources. Each link opens the original in a new tab.
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, SAPCASAM Criteria 4th Edition Implementation (levels of care and dimensions) (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed
This entry explains a clinical term so you can describe your care accurately on your website. It is not medical advice, and clinical decisions belong with your clinical team.
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