It is housed in a residential neighborhood. Wallace opened Corkery House, to serve young male substance abusers, in Richmond, Rhode Island, in 1994. Although Caritas House targets girls who are seriously abusing alcohol and other drugs, the program views the whole person in the dynamic context of total life circumstances. The underlying psychosocial model looks at the girl in terms of self and her relationship to family and the larger community. The program philosophy rewards hard work, commitment, and attainment of manageable goals, and fosters the development of social-competence skills.
Ongoing training is provided in weekly meetings.
Staff positions include an executive director, assistant director, therapists, counselors, and a quality-assurance manager. Girls are typically referred by the Department of Children and Youth Services or juvenile court, although there is an open referral process. Substance abuse is the risk factor that is specifically targeted at Caritas House, but most girls face additional and related risks. Sexual abuse is the most prominent factor. Girls may also be the children of substance abusers, have a history of emotional and psychological abuse, lack adult supervision, or have a lesbian orientation.