The following statement regarding the Women’s Treatment Centre was issued by Premier Michael Dunkley in the House of Assembly this morning.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today that the Women’s Treatment Centre received a three-year International Accreditation award from the Commission in Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International, which is the highest level of achievement. This Accreditation award is valid through March 2017.

Mr. Speaker, the Women’s Treatment Center was awarded accreditation for the categories of Community Housing: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Adult) and for Residential Treatment: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Adults). The Community Housing unit is located in Southampton. It has the capacity to house eight women and assists them in re-integration into the community following intensive residential treatment. This programme is a critical element in ensuring sustained success in recovery for our women. Currently there are four residents in the Community home.

Mr. Speaker, The Residential Treatment programme, located at the Nelson Bascome Substance Abuse Treatment Facility, is a 12-to-eighteen month intensive programme with the goal of providing quality habilitative and rehabilitative services for women affected by substance use disorders. This is accomplished through comprehensive and holistic substance abuse treatment approaches and the provision of culturally-sensitive, client-centred, and gender-specific services, which promote long-term recovery. The programme has the capacity to house twelve clients. Currently there are six residents in-house with two in the process for admission. At the same time, there are six clients participating in aftercare.

Mr. Speaker, CARF International is an independent, non-profit organisation focused on advancing the quality of services to meet the needs of persons served and to achieve the best possible outcomes. CARF International provides accreditation services worldwide in the areas of rehabilitation for a disability, treatment for addiction and substance abuse, home and community services, retirement living, and other health and human services.

Mr. Speaker, CARF not only assesses treatment programming but also assesses the physical environment, governance, leadership, strategic planning and outcome evaluation systems. A service provider, such as the Women’s Treatment Centre, earns accreditation by demonstrating conformance to CARF’s standards through documented policies and procedures as well as by providing proof of processes via a rigorous on-site survey, which includes interviews with persons served and external partners.

Mr. Speaker, in 2009, The Women’s Treatment Center was the first facility in Bermuda to meet the standards of CARF International with an award of accreditation and this is now the 2nd consecutive time that this facility has been surveyed by external surveyors and granted the “gold seal”, the highest level for quality services for three years.

Mr. Speaker, you will note that in December 2013, the NDC Act was passed in this House with the requirement that government treatment facilities be subject to accreditation. This achievement shows Government’s commitment to providing quality rehabilitation services to those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse and to returning healthy and productive citizens back to our community. This achievement also supports one of the action plans of the National Drug Control Master Plan 2013-2017.

Finally Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the staff of the Women’s Treatment Centre and its leader, Mrs Angria Bassett, for this high achievement. Their collective passion for assisting women in recovery and their expertise have served to ensure the continued adherence to the highest level and quality of care provided by this programme. I also wish to commend the Department for National Drug Control for its leadership in ensuring the availability of quality substance abuse treatment for the people of Bermuda.