CASA Esperanza

CONTACT:

P.O. Box 191540
Boston, MA 02119
(617) 445-7411
www.casaesperanza.org

Ricardo Quiroga, MEd., Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

Casa Esperanza (CE) was founded in 1984, as the first substance abuse program especially designed to help Latino men and women suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction. Its recovery strategy is based on the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program. CE has served over 1,200 clients from Eastern and Central Massachusetts, providing a comfortable, home-like environment and a program that is sensitive to Latino linguistic, cultural, and family needs. In 1994, it was one of 13 programs nationwide selected as "Best Practice Facilities" by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

CE operates three facilities — for Men, for Women and Children, and for "Graduates" — offering a full range of treatment services (e.g., individual and group counseling, case management, health education and referrals, and "aftercare planning") and more recently, HIV counseling and peer support, because AIDS is now the leading cause of death among Latino men in Massachusetts!

Most recently, CE opened Dunmore Place, six units of supportive housing for recovering women and their children. This will be followed by a second facility for various services to families of recovering addicts. This kind of growth needs private philanthropy; will you help?

(2001: HUMAN SERVICES: Well-Being)