"From a little acorn, this oak tree has grown.'' So says proud board chairman, Sandra Bain, of the new Fair Havens Christian Care Association facility in Smith's Parish, which is set to open shortly.

After years of occupying its present, limited premises on Victoria Street, the newly-renovated former guest house is not only much more spacious, but also will offer a much broader spectrum of services for female substance abusers.

Some years ago, when it was acknowledged that larger premises were needed, the Fair Havens board of directors resolved that any new facility should be internationally accredited, and to that end they set their sights firmly on raising standards.

"We needed to look at developing our professional staff to a level where they could handle the more complex treatment issues, and we needed room to do it in,'' Mrs. Bain says.

So the search began, and when the present property came on the market, its former owner looked very carefully at the Fair Havens concept before deciding to give the Association the nod.

With that approval, the next step was financing.

"Through very generous donations from both the public and private sectors, as well as Government, we were able to make the purchase and begin to make the necessary recommendations,'' Mrs. Bain says.

In addition to a state-of-the-art kitchen, the building includes a laundry, offices for counsellors and the administrative assistant, shared bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, a living room with fireplace, and dining room.

"Thanks to the generosity of Tyco, there will also be a nurse's office which will be fully equipped with all of the essentials necessary to the health care of women, including those who may be pregnant,'' Mrs. Bain says.

A special room has been set aside as a sanctuary or chapel and will open onto a secluded garden area. It is being furnished by the congregation of Christ Church, Warwick, and will be dedicated to the memory of their late minister, the Rev. Henry Shepherd, who was a member of the Fair Havens board of directors.

"It's going to be fabulous,'' Mrs. Bain promises.

A separate, two-bed apartment under the main house will accommodate women who have completed the residential programme and are preparing to return to jobs and the community. Here they will spend a month or two acquiring the final touches of independence.

A new improved Fair Havens "They will pay rent, cook for themselves, and re-establish relationships with their families under the care and guidance of Fair Havens, and the Transition and Continuing Care programme,'' Mrs. Bain explains.

When landscaping is complete, the spacious grounds will offer residents not only complete privacy, but also the peace and serenity which are an important part of their recovery. Strategically placed lawn furniture will encourage relaxation and the enjoyment of nature's beauty.

In this connection, a clearly delighted Mrs. Bain pays tribute to what she calls "the Smith's Parish family'' who, despite vehement protests from some residents, had "the courage and foresight'' to support the Fair Havens project.

"And I am proud to say that a lot of the original objectors are now supporters, and also volunteering their services,'' she notes.

In terms of staffing, the number of professionals is being significantly increased to cope with the new programme.

"At present, we have one clinical co-ordinator (Thelma Woodley, RN), one senior counsellor (Gwen Robinson), one transition and continuing care counsellor (Sonia Paynter), and one administrative assistant (Betty Burchall),'' Mrs. Bain explains, "but going forward we will be hiring a clinical co-ordinator, an RN nurse-clinician, an addictions counsellor, and a life skills counsellor. By the end of the year we anticipate that Fair Havens will be fully staffed with highly trained and experienced people who will take the programme forward.

"This is a case of `going from school to college,' and it is very exciting.'' Mrs. Bain also explains that the professional kitchen will be run by a team headed by "a fully competent and supportive cook who is fantastic''.

General cleaning will be carried out by professional staff, while the women will be responsible for daily maintenance of their rooms.

Of the expanded programme being offered at Fair Havens, the chairman says its strengths are two-fold.

"First and foremost, we will now have the ability to provide specialised treatment to international standards on Island. This is particularly important for women as they are most likely to be the breadwinners and support systems for their families.

"Secondly, we will offer a comprehensive and long-standing continuing care programme, which will be available not only to Fair Havens graduates but also to other women who have sought treatment elsewhere, or who feel the need to maintain contact with our women's group to maintain their sobriety.'' How long an individual stays at Fair Havens will depend on many things, but "it will not be of such length as to foster further dependencies'' Mrs. Bain says. "The programme will have a measure of flexibility depending on the needs of the client. In conjunction with guidelines being established under the National Drug Commission we will be guided by their expertise.'' As comfortable and well-planned as the interior of the home is, the same policy of tough love will continue, and while the new Fair Havens is not a jail, its residents will be protected by strict controls and security measures.

A sophisticated alarm system will alert staff to anyone trying to exit or enter the building without authorisation, and even pinpoint what door is being touched. In addition, security personnel will be on patrol, especially during what Mrs. Bain terms "the critical hours'', to reassure the residents, and protect them from those who do not wish to see them succeed in overcoming their addiction.

Smoking in the 16-bed building is prohibited, and highly sensitive detectors are everywhere to ensure that no-one cheats.

While the move to the more spacious location is eagerly awaited, Mrs. Bain pays tribute to St. Paul AME Church, who made the original Victoria Street premises available, and also to the many benefactors who have made the new dream possible.

"We are funded by the Council Partners Charitable Trust and the National Drug Commission, as well as several small and generous private donors including Tyco, the Bank of Bermuda, ACE, and many others too numerous to mention at this time, and we thank them one and all,'' she says.

Photos by Nigel Richardson Safe and serene: The new Fair Havens Christian Care Association centre will provide a secure setting for women striving to overcome chemical dependency.

The larger premises will provide accommodation for 16 clients, and offer a broad spectrum of counselling and other services to international standards.

Simply comfortable: A typical bedroom at Fair Havens features pine beds with extra storage underneath, and matching wardrobe/cupboard combinations.

For quiet times: As in any home, the living room at Fair Havens provides a cosy, comfortable setting in which to relax.