Sobering Centers Public Field Review

The visibility of Sobering Centers has risen in recent years, especially since SAMHSA identified Sobering Centers as a component of the crisis continuum of services. In cooperation with the National Sobering Collaborative, CARF recently convened an International Standards Advisory Committee to develop new accreditation standards for Sobering Centers. These programs serve persons with acute intoxication from alcohol and other drugs, diverting them from emergency healthcare and justice systems. Programs offer a secure and non-judgmental place for persons served to rest and stabilize from intoxication in order to safely return to their community. They also serve, based on the desired outcomes and identified needs of the persons served, as a critical entry point to a broader network of treatment and social services.

The final Sobering Center standards will be incorporated into the continuum of Crisis Programs and published in CARF’s 2026 Behavioral Health Standards Manual.

About this Field Review

This field review includes 18 standards for a Sobering Center.

An organization seeking accreditation for a Sobering Center program would also meet the following standards:

• Business practice standards in Section 1. Aspire to Excellence^®.
• Applicable standards in Section 2.
• Standards 1.-6. in Sections 3.E. Crisis Programs.

If you have questions about this field review, or would like to access other standards that are not open for comment but that may facilitate your review of these standards, please contact Cindy Solochek, Manager of Standards, at csolochek@carf.org.

We value your time and opinion, and you are invited to provide comments on each of the proposed standards. Especially if you disagree with what is proposed, please provide an explanation and constructive feedback about how the standard could be improved.

If you would like to share this field review with others in your network, please forward the invitation email.

Deadline for Submission

In order for your feedback to be considered, this field review should be submitted by Wednesday, October 1.