Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 12,276	$ 30,290	$ 23,240	$ 40,898
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			20,010	14,219
Amortization of discount and deferred debt issuance costs on notes			2,091	2,256
Share-based compensation			2,945
Deferred income taxes, net			1,622	4,272
Provision for losses on accounts receivable			4,237	4,962
Write down of assets held for sale				1,642
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net of original issue discount paid			6,400
Loss on sale of assets			76	378
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(22,807)	(25,252)
Cash provided by operating activities			37,814	43,375
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(11,324)	(9,133)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(22,077)	(17,803)
Proceeds from sale of assets			80	217
Cash used in investing activities			(33,321)	(26,719)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt (repayments) borrowings			(172,077)	(33,176)
Long-term debt borrowings			175,000
Debt issuance costs			(4,007)	(561)
Payments on obligations under capital leases			(69)	(70)
Funds contributed by co-investors				1,400
Cash used in financing activities			(1,153)	(32,407)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			93	(137)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			3,433	(15,888)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			25,651	27,552
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	29,084	11,664	29,084	11,664
ResCare, Inc.
Operating activities:
Net income	12,276	30,290	23,240	40,898
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			13,588	8,253
Amortization of discount and deferred debt issuance costs on notes			2,091	2,256
Share-based compensation			2,945
Deferred income taxes, net			1,622	4,280
Provision for losses on accounts receivable			793	3,781
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	(20,465)	(21,205)	(53,785)	(52,835)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			164,153	(19,275)
Cash provided by operating activities			161,047	(9,834)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(7,258)	(19,452)
Cash used in investing activities			(7,258)	(19,452)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt (repayments) borrowings			(169,640)	(35,095)
Long-term debt borrowings			175,000
Debt issuance costs			(4,007)	(561)
Funds contributed by co-investors				1,400
Net payments relating to intercompany financing			(149,583)	54,023
Cash used in financing activities			(148,230)	19,767
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			5,559	(9,519)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			16,733	11,084
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	22,292	1,565	22,292	1,565
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net income	20,534	23,446	54,038	61,821
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			6,288	5,862
Provision for losses on accounts receivable			3,444	1,161
Loss on sale of assets			76	378
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(69)		(153)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(104,210)	(12,274)
Cash provided by operating activities			(40,517)	56,948
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(3,913)	10,085
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(22,077)	(17,803)
Proceeds from sale of assets			80	217
Cash used in investing activities			(25,910)	(7,501)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt (repayments) borrowings			(2,129)	1,282
Payments on obligations under capital leases			(69)	(70)
Net payments relating to intercompany financing			66,080	(52,458)
Cash used in financing activities			63,882	(51,246)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			93	(138)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(2,452)	(1,937)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			6,547	9,825
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	4,095	7,888	4,095	7,888
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net income		(2,241)	(100)	(8,986)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			134	104
Deferred income taxes, net				(8)
Provision for losses on accounts receivable				20
Write down of assets held for sale				(1,166)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(82,750)	6,297
Cash provided by operating activities			(82,716)	(3,739)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(153)	234
Cash used in investing activities			(153)	234
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt (repayments) borrowings			(308)	637
Net payments relating to intercompany financing			83,503	(1,565)
Cash used in financing activities			83,195	(928)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents				1
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			326	(4,432)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			2,371	6,643
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,697	2,211	2,697	2,211
Eliminations
Operating activities:
Net income	(20,534)	(21,205)	(53,938)	(52,835)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	$ 20,534	$ 21,205	$ 53,938	$ 52,835