Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
PROGRAMS
Patient Aid Funding to Increase Access to Addiction Treatment for Women from Orange County
At Hazelden Betty Ford, our Patient Aid program for women removes financial barriers so women can access substance use treatment and complete it. This program puts addiction treatment within reach for more women in Orange County—because recovery should not be a privilege only for those who can afford it. Substance use disorders affect individuals in all stages of life; this program will help women in all demographics. However, women tend to seek help as they reach midlife and as they age, when they begin to witness the compounding effects of years of substance use. Women at these stages often start to recognize how their substance use is destroying their health and relationships and affecting their careers. At our treatment centers in Southern California, we meet people at any stage of recovery. We offer a continuum of services including medical detox; residential treatment; outpatient/day treatment; recovery housing; mental health services; fellowship groups; ongoing recovery support; and family education. Mental health care is seamlessly integrated into our programs at all levels of treatment. Women account for 40% of our admissions, above average rates nationally. We offer holistic care for women, and services for family members and children, which promote family healing and break the generational cycle of addiction in families. Finally, we offer a strong recovery network where women can find a community with shared life experience to support them on their journey.
Our Patient Aid program increases access and retention in treatment for individuals experiencing financial hardship. The costs associated with addiction treatment are a significant barrier for many women, preventing them from both seeking treatment and completing it once they have been admitted to care. Unfortunately, leaving treatment without completing the clinically recommended course significantly reduces a patient’s chance of success in recovery. In fact, research has shown that people who engage longer with substance use treatment are 24% more likely to be successful in their recovery for the long-term.
An evaluation conducted by our Butler Center for Research in 2025 demonstrated that Patient Aid “levels the playing field,” by allowing people without financial resources to stay in treatment as long as those who have means—giving them the same chance at success in recovery.
Our approach to measuring outcomes is based on scientific evaluation methods. The data collection process starts upon entering care. Several factors are quantified, such as receipt of Patient Aid and rates of treatment completion. Following discharge, we gather data from a representative sample of patients, conducted at set intervals post-treatment. Various validated, quantitative assessments are used as indicators of treatment efficacy and of patient health, such as rates of abstinence from drugs and alcohol and various quality-of-life measures. We continually integrate and improve our treatment programs, processes and policies based on these surveys and patient feedback.
CONTACT
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Po Box 11
Center City, MN 55012-0011
Esperanza Evans
Phone: 6263181339