Admissions
Admissions at St. Christopher's
The decision to seek treatment is the hardest step. Everything after it starts with one confidential phone call — whether you are calling for yourself, your husband, your son, or an employee.
No obligation. Completely confidential. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How Admission Works
Step 1
Call our admissions team
The admissions process begins with a confidential phone call. Our admissions staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to gather basic information, answer questions about our programs, and help determine whether St. Christopher's is the right clinical fit. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Step 2
We verify your insurance
Have your insurance card available if you can — the member ID number, group number, and the insurance company's provider services phone number. If you are calling on behalf of a loved one, their date of birth and basic personal information will also be needed. If you do not have all of that ready, call anyway; our team can work through the details with you.
Step 3
We plan your admission
In many cases, same-day or next-day admission is possible. The speed of admission depends on bed availability and the insurance verification process. Our admissions team works urgently to get clients into care as quickly as clinically and logistically possible.
Step 4
You arrive and begin intake
Your first day begins with a comprehensive intake assessment: a physical examination, a psychiatric evaluation, a review of your substance use history, and an assessment of any co-occurring mental health conditions. This assessment is the foundation of the individualized treatment plan that guides everything that follows.
Who You'll Talk To
Admissions at St. Christopher's is led by Richard Whitehead, Director of Admissions. When you call, you are talking to the team that will actually walk you or your loved one through insurance verification, clinical assessment, and arrival — not a call center.
What to Bring
Packing for treatment does not need to be complicated. Here is what we recommend:
- A week's worth of comfortable, casual clothing appropriate for both indoor and outdoor activity
- Personal hygiene items including shampoo, soap, deodorant, and toothbrush and toothpaste
- Any prescription medications in their original labeled bottles, with documentation from your prescribing physician
- A photo ID
- Your insurance card
- A small amount of cash for incidental personal items if needed
What Not to Bring
- Valuables, expensive jewelry, or large amounts of cash
- Any substances, drug paraphernalia, or items with sexually explicit content
- Electronic devices, including phones, are restricted during early treatment — ask our admissions team about specifics before you arrive
Coming from out of state, or helping a loved one travel here? See Getting to St. Christopher's for the address, directions, and what out-of-town families should expect.
Admissions FAQs
How do I get admitted to St. Christopher's?
The admissions process begins with a confidential phone call to our team at 225-240-4461. Our admissions staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to gather basic information, verify insurance, answer questions about our programs, and help determine whether St. Christopher's is the right clinical fit.
What information do I need to have ready when I call?
It helps to have your insurance card available, including the member ID number, group number, and the insurance company's provider services phone number. If you are calling on behalf of a loved one, their date of birth and basic personal information will also be needed. That said, if you do not have all of that ready, call anyway. Our team can work through the details with you.
How quickly can someone get admitted?
In many cases, same-day or next-day admission is possible. The speed of admission depends on bed availability and the insurance verification process. Our admissions team works urgently to get clients into care as quickly as clinically and logistically possible.
Can someone be admitted against their will?
No. Treatment at St. Christopher's is voluntary. However, if you are trying to help a loved one who is resistant to treatment, our admissions team can provide guidance on intervention resources and the most effective ways to approach that conversation. We have seen many men arrive resistant and leave transformed. The willingness often develops once they are in the right environment.
What should I bring when I come to St. Christopher's?
We recommend bringing a week's worth of comfortable clothing, personal hygiene items, any prescription medications in their original bottles with documentation, a photo ID, and your insurance card. Avoid bringing valuables, excessive cash, or items not permitted in a residential treatment setting. Our admissions team can provide a complete packing list when you call.
What happens during the intake process?
Upon arrival, clients undergo a comprehensive intake assessment that includes a physical examination, psychiatric evaluation, review of substance use history, and an assessment of co-occurring mental health conditions. This assessment is the foundation of the individualized treatment plan that guides everything that follows.
Ready When You Are
Call 225-387-1611 any hour of the day or night. In many cases, same-day or next-day admission is possible.
Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Completely confidential.