Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 4,809	$ 6,934	$ 10,964	$ 10,608
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			13,349	10,035
Amortization of discount and deferred debt issuance costs on notes			1,267	1,558
Share-based compensation			2,025
Deferred income taxes, net			624	2,597
Provision for losses on accounts receivable			2,885	3,475
Write down of assets held for sale				1,628
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net of original issue discount paid			6,400
Loss on sale of assets			95	175
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(16,047)	(1,927)
Cash provided by operating activities			21,562	28,149
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(7,415)	(5,300)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(8,662)	(8,645)
Proceeds from sale of assets			43	322
Cash used in investing activities			(16,034)	(13,623)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt (repayments) borrowings			(168,866)	(31,424)
Long-term debt borrowings			175,000
Debt issuance costs			(3,978)	(558)
Payments on obligations under capital leases			(46)	(46)
Funds contributed by co-investors				1,400
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities			2,110	(30,628)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			9	81
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			7,647	(16,021)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			25,651	27,552
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	33,298	11,531	33,298	11,531
ResCare, Inc.
Operating activities:
Net income	4,809	6,934	10,964	10,608
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			9,107	6,040
Amortization of discount and deferred debt issuance costs on notes			1,267	1,558
Share-based compensation			2,025
Deferred income taxes, net			624	2,600
Provision for losses on accounts receivable			417	3,625
Write down of assets held for sale				2,808
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net of original issue discount paid			6,400
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(17,311)	(19,035)	(33,320)	(31,630)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			137,417	25,245
Cash provided by operating activities			134,901	20,854
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(4,942)	(26,786)
Cash used in investing activities			(4,942)	(26,786)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt (repayments) borrowings			(167,447)	(33,633)
Long-term debt borrowings			175,000
Short-term borrowings (repayments)-three months or less, net				987
Debt issuance costs			(3,978)	(558)
Funds contributed by co-investors				1,400
Net payments relating to intercompany financing			(122,932)	30,156
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(119,357)	(1,648)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			10,602	(7,580)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			16,733	11,084
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	27,335	3,504	27,335	3,504
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net income	17,379	23,639	33,504	38,621
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			4,153	3,895
Provision for losses on accounts receivable			2,468	(170)
Loss on sale of assets			95	175
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(40)		(84)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(70,716)	(30,193)
Cash provided by operating activities			(30,580)	12,328
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(2,340)	21,255
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(8,662)	(8,645)
Proceeds from sale of assets			43	322
Cash used in investing activities			(10,959)	12,932
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt (repayments) borrowings			(1,294)
Long-term debt borrowings				2,173
Short-term borrowings (repayments)-three months or less, net				(987)
Payments on obligations under capital leases			(46)	(46)
Net payments relating to intercompany financing			39,849	(30,489)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities			38,509	(29,349)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			9	68
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(3,021)	(4,021)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			6,547	9,825
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	3,526	5,804	3,526	5,804
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net income	(28)	(4,604)	(100)	(6,991)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			89	100
Deferred income taxes, net				(3)
Provision for losses on accounts receivable				20
Write down of assets held for sale				(1,180)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(82,748)	3,021
Cash provided by operating activities			(82,759)	(5,033)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(133)	231
Cash used in investing activities			(133)	231
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt (repayments) borrowings			(125)
Long-term debt borrowings				36
Net payments relating to intercompany financing			83,083	333
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities			82,958	369
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents				13
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			66	(4,420)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			2,371	6,643
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,437	2,223	2,437	2,223
Eliminations
Operating activities:
Net income	(17,351)	(19,035)	(33,404)	(31,630)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	$ 17,351	$ 19,035	$ 33,404	$ 31,630