the treatment of substance abuse located on 60 Victoria Street, Hamilton.

Fair Havens was established in 1992 through the joint efforts of the Bermuda Ministerial Association and Government, (which pays the rent to the building's owners, St. Paul AME Church). It is governed by the Council Partners Charitable Trust.

The centre houses up to ten women on a full time basis and was initially only able to operate through donation from various churches.

Today it is ran by executive director, Caron LaQuita Assan, formerly a mental welfare officer with the community mental health rehabilitation team at St.

Brendan's Hospital.

Ms Assan's appointment was September 1, 1998 but she was no stranger to the facility. She did volunteer work from 1995 to 1997 at the Women's Resource Centre as a counsellor, an on-call supervisor to counsellors and team leader for the development of clinical policies and procedures.

Ms Assan has 23 years in the nursing profession. She is a registered mental nurse who studied at the Nightingale School of Nursing, London and as a clinical nurse specialist (cognitive behavioural psychotherapy) Sheffield University UK.

As of July of this year Ms Assan completed the first part of a Master of Arts in human resource development.

She holds a host of notable credentials and hopes to complete the second part of a dual Master of Arts in Management December 13, this year.

Women reach Fair Havens through a variety of routes -- some by self-referrals, some from Montrose Substance Abuse Centre, through probation or Child and Family Services. Clients are accepted on a free will basis.

The programme lasts a minimum of ten months and can accommodate up to ten clients at a time.

In January 1997, eight clients were at Fair Havens. Sixteen substance abuseres were admitted in 1997 and 1998 and there are now eight women living in the centre.

"We take the whole person in perspective and look at every aspect of them emotionally, physically, spiritually and socially,'' said Ms Assan.

During the first month, the women go through detoxification, a cleansing process related to their substance abuse.

"Cocaine seems to be the drug of choice by most of our clients,'' said Ms Assan.

They are encouraged to face reality during the first month and very gradually the healing process evolves.

Ms Assan said: "Ninety percent of substance abuse users have been sexually or physically abused in the past. They are treated for post traumatic stress syndrome and afterward most clients move on to counselling.'' Depending on their progress, women are eventually allowed out to visit families and take up jobs in the community. Each client is expected to do one month of volunteer work to realign them with society and with responsibility.

Once women begin work, they are expected to make donations for their keep by assuming aspects of cleaning and working around the facility, planning meals, compiling shopping lists and accepting designated responsibilities within the home environment.

When asked about a general profile of clients, Ms Assan said: "The clients are usually in their mid-20s to early 40s who have been abusing for several years. They have serious, unstable family issues. If they have children they may be in Family Service Care. They may not have worked for a while.

"We are a team of caring professional women dedicated to the treatment and continuing care and relapse prevention of other women with substance abuse problems.'' Ms Assan hopes to accomplish several goals for Fair Havens in the near future: Relocate to the Cabana Guest House in Smith's Parish in February, 1999; and Achieve accreditation through the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities by June, 1999.

It is the personal belief of Ms Assan that the only barriers maximising one's potential are negative thoughts. "All women can change. I hold an ultimate and unfailing belief that God can change any situation to good.'' With determination Ms Assan plans to see Fair Havens "continue to evolve towards a treatment centre of high quality care, ethical behaviour and caring with unconditional positive regard toward the women we treat''.

Graphic file name: FAREHAVE HELPING OTHERS -- Caron LaQuita Assan, executive director, Fair Havens Christian Care Association. "We take the whole person in perspective. We address issues from the mental, physical, spiritual, social and emotional aspects of a client's life.'' DRUGS DGS