New Directions for Women

What New Directions for Women does

New Directions for Women (NDFW) is a California-licensed, CARF-accredited non-profit addiction treatment center founded in 1977 and headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. It operates a full continuum of gender-specific care — drug and alcohol detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and sober living — for women, with specialized programs serving pregnant women (including detox) and mothers who can bring their children into residence. The clinical model is built on a trauma-informed, gender-responsive care framework developed in collaboration with Stephanie Covington and incorporates evidence-based modalities including DBT, EMDR, narrative therapy, 12-step facilitation, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and holistic approaches. The organization is one of the oldest women-only addiction treatment providers in Orange County, holds ASAM Level of Care 3.7 certification and California DHCS licensure, and reports a 96.5% six-month sobriety rate across a 5,000+ alumnae base.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining insurance reimbursement from in-network contracts with major commercial payors (Aetna, United Healthcare, Anthem, Cigna, MHN, Carelon, Optum, Covered California) and tax-deductible donations raised through the affiliated New Directions for Women Foundation. The Foundation funds the Pamela Wilder Scholarship, targeting $500,000 per year, which subsidizes treatment for patients who cannot afford the full cost of care. Notable gifts include a $1.1 million anonymous donation in 2009 and over $3 million in cumulative giving from founding board member Faith Strong. Distribution is driven by 24/7 phone-based admissions, a clinical outreach and interventionist referral network, national media exposure (including A&E's Intervention), and payor network listings.

NDFW is led by CEO/Executive Director Rebecca J. Flood (in role since 2004) and is governed by an independent board under a standard non-profit structure with no parent company. The organization operates two physical sites — a main residential campus in Costa Mesa and an IOP site in Newport Beach — with an emerging telehealth delivery channel. Strategic activity is incremental and mission-driven rather than venture-backed: a 2012 facility expansion, a 2024 grant from Unlikely Collaborators, and ongoing credentialing maintenance rather than acquisitions, equity raises, or multi-state facility rollout.

Name

New Directions for Women

Legal name

New Directions for Women

Website

https://newdirectionsforwomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Directions for Women is a non-profit, gender-specific addiction treatment center in Costa Mesa, California, founded in 1977, serving women across a full continuum of care from detox through sober living, with specialized programs for pregnant women and mothers with children. Revenue is generated through insurance reimbursement and foundation-funded scholarships, with treatment delivered via two physical campuses and a telehealth channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Addiction Treatment Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Substance Use Rehabilitation (Inpatient Rehab) (HLAFACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Detoxification Centers (Medical Detox) (HLAFACAD), Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN), Lactation, Postpartum & Perinatal Support Services (HLAFAJAN), Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

Keywords

• Women's addiction treatment
• Gender-specific rehab
• Trauma-informed care
• Residential treatment
• Dual diagnosis treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Costa Mesa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Insurance-Based Treatment Revenue: New Directions for Women accepts health insurance from multiple major providers including Aetna, United Healthcare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Managed Health Network (MHN), Carelon Behavioral Health, and Optum. The organization is in-network with Covered California. Revenue is generated through insurance reimbursement for detox, residential, and outpatient treatment services.
2. Donations and Foundation Fundraising: The New Directions for Women Foundation, established in 1977, raises funds annually for the Pamela Wilder Scholarship Fund with a goal of $500,000 per year. The organization receives significant donations from individuals, including a $1.1 million anonymous donation and over $3 million from founding board member Faith Strong. Donations fund scholarships that ensure every woman and child receives some scholarship assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

New Directions for Women provides a full continuum of gender-specific, trauma-informed addiction treatment for women, including drug and alcohol detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, sober living, dual diagnosis treatment, and aftercare. The organization uniquely allows mothers to bring their children into residential care and provides specialized detox services for pregnant women, all supported by the New Directions for Women Foundation scholarship fund.

Product overview

New Directions for Women operates as a gender-specific addiction treatment center offering a comprehensive continuum of care. The core programs include Drug and Alcohol Detox, Residential Treatment, Partial Day Treatment (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Sober Living/Recovery Residence. Specialized programs serve Women with Children (allowing children to stay during treatment), Pregnant Women (with dedicated detox services), and women with Dual Diagnosis. Therapeutic modalities include Trauma-Informed Care, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR, Narrative Therapy, Holistic Treatment (yoga, horticultural therapy, art therapy), Psychodrama, Family Therapy, and 12-Step Facilitation. Additional services include Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), Telehealth Solutions, and the Wellbriety Program for Native American women. The organization provides extensive aftercare through its Alumnae Association with ongoing support and follow-up tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• New Directions for Women Foundation: The foundation arm of the organization created in 1977 to support scholarship funding for patients

Products and services

• Drug and Alcohol Detox Compassionate, supervised detox services for women from drugs and alcohol, including specialized detox for pregnant women, delivered by experienced clinical staff in Orange County.
• Residential Treatment (Inpatient) Inpatient/residential drug and alcohol rehab program for women, allowing patients to experience the full continuum of health treatment within the facility; capacity is 24–30 beds.
• Partial Day Program (PHP) High-intensity structured day treatment for women in early recovery, allowing patients to return home in the evenings while continuing intensive therapy.
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Outpatient recovery skill development and addiction counseling with evening options, accommodating women at various stages of early recovery, delivered from the Newport Beach office.
• Sober Living (Recovery Residence) Structured sober living environment for women transitioning from residential treatment toward independent living.
• Dual Diagnosis Treatment Specialized integrated treatment for women with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, postpartum depression, and codependency.
• Treatment for Women with Children Gender-specific residential treatment program that allows mothers to bring their children into residence during treatment, with onsite childcare and early childhood development services.
• Treatment for Pregnant Women Specialized addiction treatment and detox for pregnant women, including prenatal care coordination, medication-assisted treatment considerations, and postpartum support.
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Evidence-based MAT combining medications with counseling and behavioral therapies as part of comprehensive addiction recovery for women.
• Telehealth Solutions Remote addiction treatment and counseling services delivered via virtual platforms, expanding access to care for women unable to attend in person.
• Wellbriety Program for Native American Women Culturally specific addiction treatment program for Native American women incorporating White Bison Wellbriety teachings and addressing intergenerational trauma.
• 12-Step Facilitation Program Recovery program incorporating 12-Step principles including AA meetings to connect clients with the broader recovery community.
• Alumnae Association and Aftercare Ongoing recovery support for the 5,000+ alumnae, including weekly meetings, sober contacts, and follow-up surveys at 30, 60, 90 days, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years post-discharge.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96.5% of patients stayed sober six months after completing treatment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stephanie CovingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStephanie Covington is a nationally recognized author, clinician, and expert in trauma-informed, gender-responsive treatment for women. Her collaboration with New Directions for Women enhances the center's clinical approach, specifically in addressing trauma and developing gender-specific treatment protocols. Her work is foundational to the organization's care model.
• Treatment Providers Alumnae Services (TPAS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPAS is a national organization created to provide guidance to treatment providers on alumnae services. New Directions for Women is a charter member and participates in sharing best practices for supporting graduates of treatment programs.
• UC IrvineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Directions for Women partners with UC Irvine for community field study internships, allowing students to gain experience in addiction treatment settings while contributing to the organization's research and quality improvement initiatives.
• White BisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhite Bison provides Wellbriety programming and culturally appropriate healing resources for Native American women. New Directions for Women holds Wellbriety Treatment Center designation and incorporates White Bison's teachings into programming for Native American clients.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Rose House: Women-only residential addiction treatment center in Southern California offering trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment. Directly comparable as a gender-specific residential provider in the same Southern California geography.
• Cottonwood Tucson: Arizona-based gender-specific residential addiction treatment program with trauma-informed and dual diagnosis capabilities. Comparable as a smaller specialty provider serving similar patient profiles (professionals, trauma histories) competing for national referrals.
• La Ventana Treatment Programs: Southern California-based mental health and addiction treatment provider offering residential and outpatient programs with trauma-informed care. Comparable as a regional specialty provider in overlapping geography with similar gender-responsive and dual-diagnosis offerings.
• Promises Treatment Centers: California-based (Malibu) gender-inclusive luxury residential treatment center specializing in women's addiction recovery. Directly comparable as a high-acuity, gender-responsive treatment provider on the West Coast competing for similar payor and private-pay patients.
• Mountainside Treatment Center: Connecticut-based residential and outpatient addiction treatment provider offering gender-specific tracks and family-inclusive care. Comparable as a mid-size private treatment operator with similar continuum-of-care structure and outcomes-focused positioning.
• Origins Behavioral HealthCare: Florida-based addiction treatment provider operating Hanley Center and other gender-responsive programs. Comparable as a mid-size residential/outpatient provider offering women's tracks and competing for similar insurance contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Caron Treatment Centers: Large non-profit addiction treatment provider on the East Coast with dedicated women's programming and family-inclusive services. Comparable as a non-profit, multi-modality treatment provider serving women with children and co-occurring disorders.
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Largest non-profit addiction treatment provider in the U.S., operates multiple residential and outpatient facilities with dedicated women's programs. Comparable as a non-profit, CARF-accredited treatment network competing for similar payor contracts and patient referrals.

Emerging players

• BrightHeart Health: Women's-focused virtual addiction and mental health treatment provider delivering care via telehealth. Comparable as a women-specific SUD provider leveraging telehealth to extend reach beyond brick-and-mortar facilities, representing a digital-native threat to traditional residential operators.

Regional players

• Sundown M Ranch: Non-profit residential and outpatient addiction treatment center in Washington State with established women's programming. Comparable as a non-profit, CARF-accredited provider offering gender-responsive treatment but serving Pacific Northwest rather than California patients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NDFW
• YouTubeyoutube.com/NewDirections4Women
• Facebookfacebook.com/NDFW1977
• LinkedInpinterest.com/NewDirectionsOC
• Instagraminstagram.com/newdirectionsforwomen
• Pinterestpinterest.com/NewDirectionsOC

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Directions for Women