<b>Alcohol, drug abuse&nbsp;</b><b>program is accredited</b>

CARF International announced that the Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Department has been accredited for a period of three years for its Outpatient Treatment: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Adults); Outpatient Treatment: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Additions (Children and Adolescents); Prevention: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Adults; Prevention: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Children and Adolescents) programs.

The latest accreditation is the seventh consecutive Three-Year Accreditation that the international accrediting body, CARF, has given to the Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Department.

“Meeting the benchmarks and standards for this accreditation is a comprehensive process,” said Bud Boyne, Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Abuse director. “This accomplishment is a true reflection of our team’s dedication and commitment to offering quality services to our residents.”

This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.&nbsp;

BCADAD is a component of Beaufort County Government with offices in Beaufort and Bluffton. It has been providing services to help individuals and families troubled by alcohol, tobacco or other drug related problems in Beaufort County since 1974.

CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of the persons served.&nbsp;

Visit www.carf.org.

<b>Dataw members battle it out for cancer fundraisers</b>

Through a series of recent events, Dataw Island Club members are battling it out on the golf course, tennis courts, croquet lawn and even through a battle of the bands in an effort to fight an even bigger battle, the “Battle for Life.”&nbsp;

The 15th annual Battle for Life cancer fundraiser is a volunteer-driven event that has become an institution on the island. Since 2002, about 300 Dataw members each year have been dedicated to supporting the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation to benefit the Keyserling Cancer Center, a cancer treatment facility Beaufort.&nbsp;

The center reports that without donations like the ones from Dataw, the&nbsp; Cancer Center would not have been possible.&nbsp;

“Nearly 10 percent of all contribution received by the BMH Foundation over the past 30 years have come from the Dataw community” reads the 2014-2015 BMH Keyserling Foundation report “Giving Well; Recognizing Our Supporters.”&nbsp;

The events comprise a golf tournament with a raffle; a tennis tournament; and even a croquet tournament.&nbsp;

“Dataw is a giving, active community that is always ready to help,” said Bruce Stevenson, Croquet Club of Dataw Island president.&nbsp; “Beaufort Memorial Hospital and Keyserling are favorite benefits that we have fun supporting. Helping enterprises that help others is what it is all about."

This year, a new addition to the series is a Battle of the Bands, in which four local bands performed and members “voted” for their favorite band by stuffing their donation jars. The band with the most money at the end of the evening won big – not only earning bragging rights and half of their “take,” but they also won knowing that they were able to raise the most money for the Battle for Life, as the other half of the funds will be donated to the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation along with the rest of the event donations. Battle of the Bands competitors included The Debbie McDaniel Band, the Sometimes Later Band, The Rose Family Band and 503, a group of high school seniors who walked away the winners.

Donations to Beaufort Memorial can also be made online by visiting&nbsp; bmhsc.org/bmh-foundation/give-online.

Visit www.dataw.com.

<b>New assisted living&nbsp;</b><b>facility to open in May</b>

A new independent and assisted living facility will open in Ridgeland in May.

Canterfield of Bluffton, owned and developed by Atlanta-based Medical Development Corp., will be located at 567 N. Okatie Highway. Construction of the luxury assisted living project, situated on 7.25 acres, has been underway since the middle of 2016. &nbsp;

The three-story assisted living building will include 91 assisted living apartments along with 22 secure memory care units. &nbsp;

Canterfield of Bluffton belongs to the Canterfield Senior Living Communities signature brand that is establishing its footprint throughout the southeast region of the United States. In addition to the assisted living building, the Canterfield of Bluffton campus will feature nine independent living villas, to be built as three triplex units. &nbsp;

All Canterfield Senior Living Communities offer social model assisted living, which utilizes the "neighborhood" concept to accommodate various stages of acuity. Neighborhoods are designed to allow residents as much independence as possible, with numerous onsite amenities and programs to promote social interaction. For those who need more care, there is a higher acuity neighborhood that contains a larger ratio of nursing aides to residents.&nbsp; The specialized memory care neighborhood features a secure environment with its own private garden and dedicated activities.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Visit www.canterfieldofbluffton.com or call 843-783-3599.