-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NTWLUmUoKCVX5S+FAwAlBDm+HlhLdcOxG4ATajp08cDOPNhjidrO0FIG/fIGe5hs
 fYpWhP/jMuubEV82EZc72A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-05-065538.txt : 20051208
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-05-065538.hdr.sgml : 20051208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051208161228
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-05-065538
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051206
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051208
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051208

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEINTS KRISTI
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001256580

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50364
		FILM NUMBER:		051252572

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5524 EAST FOURTH STREET
		CITY:			TUCSON
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85711

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROVIDENCE SERVICE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001220754
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-SOCIAL SERVICES [8300]
		IRS NUMBER:				860845127
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0629

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5524 E. FOURTH ST.
		CITY:			TUSCON
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85711
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5207487108

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5524 E. FOURTH ST.
		CITY:			TUSCON
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85711
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd99560.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 - OPTIONS
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001220754</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROVIDENCE SERVICE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRSC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001256580</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MEINTS KRISTI</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5524 E. FOURTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TUCSON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85711</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Katherine Blute, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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