Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Nov. 15, 2010 Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2010 Residential Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Residential Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Residential Services	Nov. 15, 2010 Residential Services Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2010 ResCare HomeCare	Dec. 31, 2012 ResCare HomeCare	Dec. 31, 2011 ResCare HomeCare	Nov. 15, 2010 ResCare HomeCare Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2010 Youth Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Youth Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Youth Services	Nov. 15, 2010 Youth Services Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2010 Workforce Services	Dec. 31, 2012 Workforce Services	Dec. 31, 2011 Workforce Services	Nov. 15, 2010 Workforce Services Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2010 Corporate	Dec. 31, 2012 Corporate	Dec. 31, 2011 Corporate	Nov. 15, 2010 Corporate Predecessor
Segment Information
Revenues	$ 195,076	$ 405,027	$ 396,838	$ 399,902	$ 397,342	$ 397,892	$ 396,267	$ 399,092	$ 386,084	$ 1,599,109	$ 1,579,335	$ 1,367,601	$ 104,302	$ 885,633	$ 853,474	$ 724,536	$ 39,522	$ 336,968	$ 321,832	$ 266,544	$ 22,541	$ 180,552	$ 185,143	$ 158,688	$ 28,711	$ 195,956	$ 218,886	$ 217,833
Operating income (loss)	16,054	36,814	28,736	23,563	20,046					109,159	103,900	(194,559)	14,662	122,062	103,749	(93,623)	2,893	22,799	22,915	(47,391)	2,303	13,696	14,899	(1,835)	2,917	12,117	18,352	13,160	(6,721)	(61,515)	(56,015)	(64,870)
Total assets	964,952	1,051,958				992,258				1,051,958	992,258		505,426	570,031	516,729		182,943	182,717	178,754		96,371	96,691	109,017		119,883	84,880	93,063		60,329	117,639	94,695
Capital expenditures	2,127									15,485	13,507	8,593	151	5,575	5,755	4,147	84	841	941	566	51	288	216	352	22	486	873	754	1,819	8,295	5,722	2,774
Depreciation and amortization	2,292									33,371	20,929	21,589	1,113	19,467	10,915	7,035	402	2,748	2,208	3,057	174	1,557	1,074	1,677	168	1,251	1,325	2,293	435	8,348	5,407	7,527
Charge for goodwill impairment												$ 250,181				$ 174,100				$ 59,800				$ 16,300