VISION STATEMENTTo be the leading Centre for the Transformation of Persons with Addictions
MISSIONTransform Individuals with addictions through Community-based recovery programs.Support Families through education and specialist services.Develop Partnerships to facilitate reintegration into society.Advocate Acceptance of people with addictions
In 2007, WE CARE Community Services continued to provide a drop in Centre and educational programs for recovering people and their families which was nurturing and caring supporting renewal and transformation. It also provide programs for volunteers & courses about addictions for working professionals. The centre hosted a number of 12 Step meetings & recovery support groups & continues to provide intensive outpatient services the community.The facilities of the Centre are provided free of charge to recovering people and their families but charges are levied for professional courses conducted
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2007
Staffing
The Centre has two full time Managers running the programs with the support of other part time professionals and volunteers, some of whom are paid honorariums. An administrative officer will be employed, by the end of the first quarter 2008, offering administrative support to the Centre
PROGRAMMES
During 2007 WE C.A.R.E. conducted the following programs
Recovery Support Groups
Recovery persons who may or may not be ex-offenders attend groups. These are open to all persons in the recovery community. The Centre continues to host anonumous 12 step Groups for Alcoholics, Gamblers, Drug addicts, Overeaters and Sex & Love Addicts. In addition regular general recovery support meetings were held where all addicts are welcome. The centre also hosted a number of Family Support Group meetings. The year started with 14 groups and by the end of the year the Centre had 23 Twelve Step and recovery support groups meeting at various times over 6 days of the week.
F.R.E.E. (Facilitated Recovery Enabling Education) Plus
In 2007, WE C.A.R.E. ran four F.R.E.E. programs. The duration of each class was one month, with an average of 12 to 15 participants. The program objectives are to educate pre-release Halfway House (HWH) residents and persons with behavioral and chemical additions in early recovery who are referred by hospitals e.g. Institute of Mental Health / Community Addiction Management Program (CAMP), doctors and community agencies. The Centre facilitates maintenance of sobriety through intensive, structured group-based activities, which enable the participants to develop coping skills, interpersonal and life skills. Participants actively engage with long-term clean recovering people and learn that there is a safe place for them to go and are introduced to Twelve Step & other Support Groups and activities. This program is funded by Yellow Ribbon and NCSS
“Windows on Addictions” Course
WE CARE successfully ran a 10-module course entitled “Windows on Addictions” aimed at working professionals. This began in August 2007 with 20 participants from various agencies. The course covered the fundamentals of addiction treatment and counseling. It equipped participants with basic knowledge and skills to provide professional services to substance abusers. The Centre’s professionals will continue to share their expertise and experience with others providing services to persons with addictions. Due to the good response, WE CARE aims to run this program two times
Volunteer Programs
The Centre has encouraged the development of volunteers in recovery through the formation of an alumnae association, comprising persons of all addictions to pass the message on to others in recovery - that change is possible. The Centre, also, opened its doors on major holidays such as New Year and Christmas to provide a safe refuge for recovering persons who struggle with emotions and loneliness during the holidays. During this festive period, recovery support groups were conducted during the day and throughout the night and early morning hours. The Centre and volunteers provided food and beverage and entertainment. This event was attended mainly by persons in recovery and their family members. The Alumnae held several outings, mainly on Saturdays, during the course of 2007. Some of these outings were a nature walk, a hike up Bukit Timah Hill and a picnic at Pasir Ris. Many of these activities attracted over 30 individuals and families. The Alumnae, together with the staff of WE CARE Centre also organized a barbeque, which was held at the Centre’s carpark. This barbeque event was highly successful, because it brought together members of different fellowships. Approximately 80 individuals and their families attended.
Other activities
During the course of 2007, WE CARE organized various therapeutic activities for it’s drop-in members. Yoga, for instance, was conducted every Sunday by Umesh Prabhu, who is affiliated with The Art of Living Foundation. Through Yoga practice participants learned an alternative mode to cope with stress. Badminton was another activity that was organized by the Centre in 2007. WE CARE Centre booked badminton courts, at the Delta Sport Complex, every Wednesday between 4pm to 6pm for it’s members
Community Partnerships
During the year 2007, the Centre participated in numerous community awareness activities. Educational talks as well as ‘mock’ support group meetings were conducted for the benefit of a general audience at several public and religious organisations. Talks were also conducted at SANA on the dangers of alcohol abuse. The audience for this discussion was mainly SANA counselors. More collaboration is expected with SANA and MCYS in 2008 on youth addiction education.Singapore Pools listed WE C.A.R.E. Centre helpline number in gambling handout literature at its various outlets and Asia Pacific Breweries listed us in their responsible drinking campaign and website
Resource and Information Centre
Our resource and information Centre provides books, pamphlets and workbooks on recovery along with literature and tools for daily living. WE C.A.R.E. was appointed distributor of Hazelden books for Singapore and other East Asian countries, an internationally recognized publisher of recovering literature. These publications are offered during participation in partnership events such as Yellow Ribbon Fund carnival, Asia Pacific Institute of Addictions (“APIA”) conferences and open house programs at the Centre
FUTURE PLANS
Outreach and Public education
With the assurance of funding support, the Centre will begin awareness campaigns at the prisons to inform near to be released offenders about our programs and services. There will be continuous interaction with Prisons Senior Management and integration with the CARE Network to inform agencies and case managers of the value of our drop-in centre for their clients. We are also working on a programme to reach out to schools and community based organizations. This will include educational talks to a number of schools, and activities to create awareness of addictions at home and in the public.
Project F.R.E.E. PLUS
The F.R.E.E. PLUS program was a noteworthy success in 2007. WE CARE is planning to conduct 6 more intakes from April 2008 to March 2009. With financial support from the VWO Capability Fund of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) F.R.E.E. PLUS emphasizes continued abstinence, education and creates awareness that aftercare programs exist for individual and family recovery jointly. This program is a non-denominational all-inclusive evidence-based program developed and run by qualified and experienced professionals and stable long-term recovering persons. This project is aimed at providing community-based services for persons with chemical and behavioral addictions and their families.
Fund Raising
In order for the Centre to expand its activities it will be necessary for WE Foundation to expand its fund raising activities. More approaches will be made to corporate donors and individuals. With the support of SCORE WE CARE is also applying to be a beneficiary of the President’s Challenge.
“Windows on Addictions”
As the need for training programmes is in high demand, WE CARE aims to run the 10-module “Windows on Addictions” course twice in the coming year
Locating New Premises
The Centre has the use of its current premises only up to December 2009. In the long term it will be necessary to look for a more permanent solution and approaches are being made to MCYS and NCSS for their support. The location needs to be accessible by public transportation and the space adequate for the running of our programs. A capital fund for relocation and renovation costs will have to be set up if an alternative location is found.
