Intervention Readiness Checklist for Families

An intervention is ready when four things are true: no one is in immediate danger, a small team agrees on one message, a treatment option is lined up for the same day, and every person knows the boundary they will hold if the answer is no. Use the free checklist below to see which pieces your family still needs.

How do you know if your family is ready for an intervention?

Most families who call us are not ready on the first day, and that is normal. Readiness is not a feeling. It is a short list of practical pieces: safety, the right people, a shared message, a place to go, boundaries everyone will keep, and a plan for what comes after. When those are in place, the conversation can focus on love and the next step instead of arguments and logistics.

Tick each item you can honestly say is done. The counter at the bottom shows how far along you are. Nothing you check is saved or sent anywhere; it stays on your own screen.

Which items matter most?

If you only have time for a few, start here:

• Safety. A planned intervention is not a crisis response. If someone may hurt themselves or others, call 911, or call or text 988.
• A program that can take them today. The moment someone says yes is often short. Families who have to start calling programs after the yes can lose it.
• Boundaries people will actually keep. A boundary dropped a week later teaches that the family did not mean it.
• Support for the family. Whatever your loved one decides, the people who love them need support too.

When should a family bring in a professional interventionist?

Mayo Clinic advises consulting an addiction professional when planning an intervention, and says it may be especially important to have the professional attend when the person has a history of serious mental illness or violence, has attempted or recently talked about suicide, or may be taking several mood-altering substances. In our experience, these situations also call for professional help:

• A past intervention or family conversation went badly
• Family members disagree about whether there is a problem, or about what to do
• The person lives far away, or family members live in different states
• The person is a teenager, or an older parent
• Mental health symptoms such as psychosis or mania are involved
• The family is considering a court petition for involuntary treatment

Our intervention team includes a Certified Intervention Professional (CIP), certified addiction counselors (CADC), and members trained in the ARISE and CRAFT approaches. If you are comparing professionals, use our list of questions to ask an interventionist.

What if your family is not ready yet?

Most families are missing a few pieces at first. Not being ready is not a reason to give up; it is a to-do list. Common next steps:

• Start writing letters now, using our intervention letter guide and templates.
• Learn the steps in how to do an intervention.
• Compare approaches, including invitational and CRAFT, in intervention methods compared.
• Join the free virtual family support group, every other Tuesday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM Pacific, led by a licensed therapist. See support for families.

Intervention readiness questions

How long does it take to get ready for an intervention?

It varies. Some families are ready within days, especially when a professional helps line up the team and a treatment program. Others take a few weeks to write letters, settle boundaries and arrange care. In urgent situations our team can often travel the same day, but that is a possibility, not a promise.

Do we need a treatment program arranged before the intervention?

Yes, in almost every case. The family's ask is strongest when it is specific: a program that has already agreed to admit your loved one on the day, with insurance or payment checked and travel arranged.

What if one family member will not take part?

An intervention can still go ahead with the people who are ready, as long as the person who is not taking part will not undermine it. A professional can help decide whether that person should be told about the plan.

Is this checklist saved or shared?

No. The boxes you check stay in your own browser and are not saved or sent anywhere. You can print the checklist to use with your family.

Is the first call with your intervention team free?

Yes. Your first call is free, and you receive a written quote before any work begins. Planning and family coaching can happen by video; the intervention itself takes place in person, anywhere in the United States.

Sources

• Mayo Clinic: Intervention, help a loved one overcome addiction
• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Ready to plan, or not sure where to start? Talk with our intervention team.