Preferred Family Healthcare (PFH)

Preferred Family Healthcare (PFH) is a major community-based non-profit organization providing a wide range of behavioral health and social services across approximately 100 locations, primarily in Missouri, as well as Illinois, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

Core Programs & Services

The organization is designed to serve “the whole person” through integrated medical and behavioral care. Key areas of focus include:

• Substance Use Treatment: This is a primary pillar of PFH. They offer residential and outpatient programs for both adults and adolescents. Services include medically assisted treatment (MAT), detoxification, and gender-specific residential programs for women.

• Mental Health Services: They provide psychiatric care, individual and group counseling, and specialized trauma-informed therapy.

• Youth & Family Support: PFH works with children and adolescents at risk, offering school-based prevention programs, crisis intervention, and support for families aiming for reunification.

• Employment & Personal Assistance: Beyond clinical care, they help individuals with disabilities or mental wellness challenges secure employment and develop independent living skills like budgeting and public transportation use.

• Crisis & Domestic Violence: In certain regions (like St. Louis), they operate 24-hour crisis hotlines, emergency shelters, and individual advocacy for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Preferred Family Healthcare (PFH) provides a comprehensive DUI/DWI program in Missouri through its Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program (SATOP). As a state-certified provider, PFH manages the entire process from initial assessment to the completion of court-ordered education or treatment.

The SATOP Process

The program is structured to meet Missouri’s legal requirements for driver’s license reinstatement. Every participant must start with an assessment to determine their required service level.

• Initial Assessment: An Offender Management Unit (OMU) screening is mandatory. It involves a review of your driving record, breath alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of arrest, a computerized assessment, and a personal interview.

• Cost: The standard assessment fee is $375. This includes a $126 screening fee and a $249 supplemental state fee.

• Result: Upon completion, you receive a Program Assignment Form valid for six months, which dictates which of the four levels you must complete.

Levels of Care Offered

PFH provides all four standard levels of SATOP service, tailored to the severity of the offense and the individual’s risk level.

• Level 1: Offender Education Program (OEP)

  • Best For: First-time offenders considered low-risk.

  • Format: A 10-hour curriculum focusing on the physiological effects of alcohol and the legal consequences of impaired driving.

  • Fee: Typically around $200.

• Level 2: Weekend Intervention Program (WIP)

  • Best For: Second-time offenders or high-risk first-timers.

  • Format: An intensive 20 to 48-hour program conducted over a single weekend in a structured environment.

  • Fee: Minimum of $250 (plus roughly $7 for materials), with higher costs based on a sliding scale for those with higher income

• Level 3: Clinical Intervention Program (CIP)

  • Best For: Persistent offenders or those showing signs of dependency.

  • Format: A 50-hour outpatient program (typically 6–8 weeks) consisting of group education, group counseling, and individual sessions.

  • Fee: Minimum of $250, with total costs often reaching $1,000+ based on income

• Level 4: Serious and Repeat Offender Program (SROP)

  • Best For: Individuals with multiple offenses or severe dependency symptoms.

  • Format: At least 75 hours of intensive outpatient treatment over a minimum of 90 days.

  • Fee: Varies based on the Department of Mental Health’s Standard Means Test.

Additional Services

• Comparable Programs: If you have already completed a nationally accredited substance use program (at least 120 hours total), PFH can process a SATOP Comparable Form to see if it satisfies your legal requirements.

• Adolescent Program (ADEP): A specialized 10-hour version of the Level 1 program is available for offenders under the age of 21.

PFH operates these programs at many of its locations throughout Missouri, including hubs in Springfield, St. Charles, Kirksville, and Kansas City. It is recommended to contact your local office directly to schedule the initial $375 assessment.