The Department of Counselling Services’ Caribbean Haven Residential Centre (CHRC), with help from community partners, is improving its infrastructure and landscape.

Projects such as refurbishing the walkway, renovating the roof, and clearing vegetation on the surrounding property are being undertaken with funding from the Government.

However, a major project to re-paint the main building was made possible through the generous support of community partners. With the paint donated by AL Thompson’s, volunteers from KPMG embarked on this ambitious project at the beginning of September 2012.

With the help of more than 70 volunteers, the work was concluded on Friday, October 12, as a part of KPMG’s annual “Making a Difference” day. CHRC residents also joined in.

Having become involved with the centre through this project, KPMG has identified other ways to assist. Through a generous donation, there are now security cameras on the compound. The company has also undertaken a landscaping project which will include planting a vegetable garden for residents to maintain. Also included on KPMG’s agenda is making repairs to the volleyball court which is often used by residents during their leisure time.

Director of the Department of Counselling Services Judith Seymour indicated that she is overwhelmed by the generosity and commitment to the programmes offered at Caribbean Haven that has been demonstrated by the staff and management of KPMG.  “We have been anxious to attend to the physical plant needs at Caribbean Haven for some time now; however, with successive budget reductions, we were concerned as to our ability to actually accomplish this. The generosity of KPMG’s financial contributions as well as the time volunteered by their staff has now allowed us to surpass what we had hoped to achieve, and we are truly grateful for all of their support.”

Clinical Supervisor at Caribbean Haven Residential Centre Esther Taylor also stated, “The improvements to the facility and its overall appearance create a first impression that matches the quality of services we provide. It’s been an amazing journey and we cannot begin to express our gratitude to those who have made this possible.”

Since its establishment in 2000, CHRC has undergone various programme and policy revisions in efforts to deliver the most culturally relevant treatment to the people of the Cayman Islands.

CHRC is a government funded agency which serves as a treatment programme facility that provides care to those struggling with substance abuse issues. All services are available to both males and female ages 19 and up.

About the Caribbean Haven Residential Centre

The Caribbean Haven Residential Centre operates two programmes that run independently of each other. One is the Withdrawal Management Unit which offers a non-medical, social detoxification programme to individuals who require a safe environment in which to withdraw from substances. Persons who self-refer for services are admitted into the programme for a period of 4 to 7 days after appropriate screening has been completed.

The other programme is the Primary Residential Treatment Programme for both males and females who are assessed to be severely and chronically addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. In the continuum of care, residential treatment facilities are considered to be the “last stop” for treatment and are offered when other, less intrusive forms of treatment, are first determined to be ineffective.

During their stay, which will extend to approximately six months depending on residents’ needs, residents move through three progressive levels of treatment. Each level addresses their unique treatment plans along with a hierarchical system of expectations and responsibilities. Residents who enter the programme can expect to address their attitudes, beliefs, and lifestyle in order to successfully complete the programme.  In the final level, they are reintroduced fully into the larger community and are given the opportunity to apply the principles of right living practiced in the treatment setting.

Caribbean Haven Residential Centre will soon be expanding to provide a Day Treatment Programme to complement other services offered within the Department’s continuum of services.