Because no child should be without hope . . .
Bishop Ruocco House Treatment Center
About Bishop Ruocco House Treatment Center
Bishop Ruocco House, named in honor of the late Bishop John Joseph Ruocco, was established by Humberto Cardinal Medeiros in June of 1981 as a result of the success of the short term program, Phaneuf Youth Center in Brockton. Life Resources built off of the strengths of a short term program model and opened Bishop Ruocco as a co-educational, long term treatment program for those youth referred by the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, Department of Social Services as well as private agencies. It became strictly a program for male residents shortly after its opening and set the standard for long term care. The youth at the center received educational, behavioral, clinical, family and vocational services in their stay at the program. Bishop Ruocco youth were active in the local community as they took part in vocational training and summer job internships as well as receiving culinary training through local culinary institutes. Family work was a central aspect of the treatment as extensive outreach was provided to help families and youth work closely together towards rebuilding their lives.
In 2001, Bishop Ruocco House changed its focus to the young women committed to the Department of Youth Services. The treatment focus remained on reunifying the young women with their families in a short term treatment model while also meeting their educational, clinical and behavioral needs.
Today, Bishop Ruocco is the only female treatment center in Life Resources, Inc. and the program continues to develop innovative approaches in which to best meet the needs of the young women who reside there. "Catch them doing something good" is a philosophy that guides the behavioral interventions as each child is supported in their efforts to bring about change in their lives.
Bishop Ruocco House Program Director: Peter Tavares