About Us & Our Mission
Our passion and our expertise focus on helping you, your loved ones and the communities you belong to experience healthier, happier lives—free from drug and alcohol addiction and other mental health disorders.
What is the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation?
Harnessing science, love and the wisdom of lived experience, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a force of healing and hope for individuals, families and communities affected by substance use and mental health conditions. As the nation’s foremost nonprofit provider of comprehensive behavioral health care, Hazelden Betty Ford leads the way in helping society rise above stigma and overcome addiction.
With a legacy that began in 1949 and includes the 1982 founding of the Betty Ford Center, the Foundation now has treatment centers and telehealth services nationwide, as well as a network of collaborators throughout health care. Charitable support and a commitment to innovation drive ongoing advances in care, research, programs and services to impact more lives.
With a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in all of its endeavors, Hazelden Betty Ford also encompasses:
- A fully accredited graduate school of addiction studies
- A publishing division
- A dedicated addiction and recovery research center
- Thought leadership and advocacy
- Professional and medical education programs
- Community and school-based prevention programs and resources
- Specialized program for family members, loved ones and children
Is Hazelden Betty Ford a nonprofit organization?
Yes. In partnership with the Butler Center for Research, we identify the gold standards in addiction treatment and seek to consistently surpass them—continually evaluating the efficacy and quality of care delivered at each of our treatment sites.
We publish books, diagnostic criteria and recovery support resources. We educate families and help children heal. We train teachers and medical professionals to recognize addiction and lend appropriate support to their communities. We partner with prestigious health organizations like Mayo Clinic and Addiction Alliance of Georgia to spark new ideas and broaden access to care.
In short, and supported by our generous donors, we do everything in our power to spread hope and make recovery possible for more people.
When was Hazelden Betty Ford founded?
The Hazelden Foundation was established in 1949 in Center City, Minnesota, and the Betty Ford Center opened in 1982 in Rancho Mirage, California. The two organizations merged in 2014 to form the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
Learn more about the history of Hazelden Betty Ford and why we can help you or a loved one find freedom from addiction.