Choosing the right rehab can be overwhelming. Our Trust Score—a simple A+ to E grade—offers a quick, clear snapshot of how much confidence you might place in a treatment center, based on publicly available and self-reported information.
The score highlights facilities that appear to follow best practices in treatment, transparency, and accountability—based on the data we can access.
Learn more about how we evaluate and rank treatment facilities.
Important: The Trust Score is not a guarantee of quality or outcomes. It reflects our independent analysis of data available to us and should be used as a starting point, not the sole basis for making treatment decisions.
Note on current grades: The Trust Score is designed as an A+ through E rating system. We are rolling out the grading scale in phases, beginning with A+, A, and A-. As we continue to expand our data and consult with clinical experts, we will roll out B through E grades to provide a more comprehensive spectrum of the treatment landscape.
We conduct a background check to verify licensing and accreditation as well as research past client reviews and feedback, legal and public records, news stories, and other information that may raise concerns about the safety or quality of the facility.
Current accreditation from The Joint Commission or CARF is required to receive a grade in the A range, but accreditation is not the only thing that determines a facility's grade. We also consider the severity, credibility, recency, and repetition of concerns found through the background review.
To receive our highest trust rating, a facility must demonstrate an exceptional level of reliability and public trust. To qualify, an organization must:
Gold-standard accreditation: The facility must hold current accreditation from The Joint Commission or CARF, two of the industry's most recognized benchmarks for safety and quality of care.
Proven longevity: The organization must have been in continuous operation for 20+ years.
Independent recognition or exceptional longevity: The facility must demonstrate an additional signal of established trust, such as substantial references from government, educational, or public health institutions; sustained recognition by respected national publications; or 50+ years of continuous operation.
Facilities that meet these criteria still undergo our full background review. Serious concerns associated with a facility can prevent it from receiving an A+.
To earn an "A" trust rating, a facility must demonstrate a strong commitment to recognized clinical and safety standards:
Gold-standard accreditation: The facility must hold current accreditation from The Joint Commission or CARF.
No significant concerns identified: Our background review must not identify significant concerns that warrant lowering or withholding the facility's grade.
An "A-" indicates that a facility meets our accreditation standards but our background review identified a concern that prospective clients may want to consider. This may include a recurring pattern of complaints from past clients or one or more credible safety allegations that a potential client may want to ask the facility about.
In limited cases, serious concerns or unresolved information may prevent us from confidently assigning a Trust Score. A facility may also be removed from Start Your Recovery if its required state license has been revoked or another serious licensing or regulatory issue makes continued listing inappropriate.
Exclusions: Accreditation alone does not guarantee a high trust score. We actively review past client experiences, licensing and regulatory history, legal and public records, and other available information. Significant or substantiated concerns may result in a lower grade, no grade, or removal from the site, depending on their severity.
While the Trust Score is our primary filter, our search rankings algorithm also factors in two other critical elements to help you find the right care:
Proximity: Centers located in the exact city of your search rank higher to ensure local accessibility.
Availability Status: We prioritize facilities that provide real-time updates on bed availability.
Note: We primarily receive this data from facilities we have a relationship with. While some are paid partnerships, many are non-profits receiving this service for free as part of our mission to serve under-resourced communities.