Recovery Advocators

Recovery

Advocators
Start Here →

Tools and Printable Checklists for Families

Free checklists and worksheets you can use or print, from comparing rehab programs to the questions to ask your insurance plan before admission.

By Kyle, Recovery AdvocatorsUpdated October 1, 2026Fact-checked against primary sources · Awaiting clinical review

Each tool here covers one step of finding help: comparing programs, checking a program before you say yes, calling your insurance plan, and decoding the jargon along the way. Most families start with the Rehab Comparison Worksheet once they have two or three programs in mind. Everything is free to use or print, with no sign-up.

The tools

Pick the one for the step you’re on. Each prints on a page or two, so you can keep it in front of you during a call.

Family tools

Rehab Comparison WorksheetCompare up to three programs side by sideTreatment Decision ChecklistWhat to confirm before you say yes to a programInsurance Call ChecklistQuestions to ask your plan, plus a call logGlossary of Treatment and Insurance TermsPlain-English meanings of treatment and insurance wordsTrusted ResourcesFree public and nonprofit lines that aren't selling anythingFamily Emergency Action GuideA one-page plan to fill in and keep on the fridge

Checklists inside our guides

Some guides carry their own printable checklist, placed where you’ll need it.

More checklists

Conversation prep cardTwo things you've seen and one option ready20 questions for the admissions callNote each program's answersRelease of information checklistWhat a consent form needs so staff can talk to youAftercare planning checklistQuestions to ask before dischargeRelapse Response PlanWho to call and what to do after a relapse

Two free public services to bookmark

When you’re looking for programs, start with FindTreatment.gov. It lists only facilities the state has licensed, certified or otherwise approved, though a listing isn’t SAMHSA’s endorsement of any one facility.1 If you’d rather talk it through, the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 gives free, confidential treatment referrals around the clock, in English and Spanish.2

Frequently asked questions

Is what I tick in a checklist private?

Ticks are saved only in your device’s browser, not sent to us. On a shared computer, use the checklist’s Clear button when you’re done.

Can these tools tell us what treatment our loved one needs?

No. Only a doctor or licensed clinician can assess your loved one. Learn how an assessment decides the level of care.

Your next step

Download the Rehab Comparison Worksheet
Find support for yourself →

Sources

  1. SAMHSA, FindTreatment.gov — Frequently Asked Questions. findtreatment.gov/faqs — accessed Oct 2026
  2. SAMHSA — National Helpline. samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline — accessed Oct 2026

Keep reading

How Do These Rehab Programs Compare? A Side-by-Side WorksheetA free worksheet for comparing up to three treatment programs side by side, with the facts to check yourself and the answers that should rule a program out.What to Ask Your Insurance Before Rehab: A 10-Question Call ChecklistThe 10 questions to ask your loved one's health plan before admission, with a call log for names, dates and reference numbers. Free to print.20 Questions to Ask a Treatment Center Before AdmissionOne phone call can tell you a lot about a treatment program, if you ask the right questions. Here are the 20 that matter most, what a good answer sounds like, and when to keep looking.Who Can We Call? Trusted Helplines for FamiliesEvery number here is free and run by a public agency or nonprofit, not a treatment program, so nobody on the line earns money when your loved one enrolls.Helping Someone You Love With Addiction: A Complete Family GuideWhen someone you love is struggling with drugs or alcohol, you don't need to know everything. You need the next right step. This guide walks families through every decision, from "is something wrong?" to life after treatment.