HOW A.A.s CARRY THE MESSAGE TO ALCOHOLICS IN TREATMENT FACILITIES
In trying to help the alcoholic who is in a treatment
facility, A.A.s work together, insofar as possible, by using suggestions from
those who have already had experience carrying the message into treatment
facilities.
These Guidelines provide a summary of shared experience of A.A.s who have
carried the message into treatment facilities. A Treatment Facilities Workbook,
available from the General Service Office, contains detailed information about
carrying the message into treatment facilities, including ways to approach
treatment center personnel, presentations and workshops, temporary contact
programs, and other helpful information. The workbook is sent to committee
chairpersons at no charge and is listed in the literature catalog.
PURPOSE
Treatment facilities committees are formed to coordinate the
work of individual A.A. members and groups who are interested in carrying our
message of recovery to alcoholics in treatment facilities, and to set up means
of “bridging the gap” from the facility to an A.A. group in the individual’s
community.
A treatment facilities committee may function within the structure of a
general service committee on the area or district level or it may serve within
the structure of a central office/intergroup. Prior to forming these committees,
this Twelfth Step work is sometimes handled by an individual group or member. As
A.A. groups grow in number in a community, experience suggests that a committee
works more effectively.
In some parts of the country, A.A.s interested in carrying the message into
treatment and correctional facilities work together on Hospitals and
Institutions committees independent of, but in cooperation with, general service
and intergroup committees. This structure also works well—especially in areas
where lines of communication between the various service entities remain open.
HISTORY
Since A.A.’s co-founders first stayed sober by carrying the
A.A. message into hospitals, many other alcoholics have discovered the great
value to their own sobriety of working with suffering alcoholics in treatment
facilities.
In 1934, Bill W. kept trying to help drunks in Towns Hospital in New York
City. None of them seemed interested at that time, but Bill stayed sober. Dr.
Bob worked with thousands of alcoholics at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio.
In 1939, Rockland State Hospital, a New York mental institution, was the site of
one of our first A.A. hospital groups.
Today many A.A. meetings take place in treatment facilities all over the
world. Twelfth Stepping and sponsoring other alcoholics —where they are—has long
been one of the most important and satisfying ways of keeping ourselves sober.
Services to treatment facilities used to be combined with corrections
facilities under the title Institutions Committee. In 1977 the General Service
Conference voted to dissolve its Institutions Committee and form two new
committees, one on correctional facilities and one on treatment facilities. For
more information on A.A.’s work in hospitals and treatment centers, see the book
A.A. Comes of Age.
HOW TO GET STARTED
Since hospitals and treatment facilities do not permit
unauthorized visitors to enter their facilities, the first step is to establish
contact with administrators. In some areas, the initial contact may be by a
committee on cooperation with the professional community (C.P.C. committee). A
meeting to discuss ways A.A. can cooperate with the facility within our Twelve
Traditions will help avoid numerous pitfalls later.
If possible, arrange for informational presentations to the facilities’ staff
for the purpose of explaining what A.A. is and is not. The General Service
Office can provide service material offering suggestions for informational
programs. The video “Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous” explains the principles of
A.A., our primary purpose and many other aspects which will be of interest to
administrators, counselors and patients.
The pamphlet “A.A. in Treatment Facilities” describes different types of
meetings in treatment centers. In some instances, regular A.A. groups meet in
facilities where they rent space in the Tradition of self-support and function
in the same way as groups which meet in church basements, schools, etc. The
patients are welcome to attend the meetings and this is a practical and simple
way of introducing patients to A.A. while they are still in treatment.
Treatment facility meetings differ from those of the regular group. They are
A.A. meetings held for patients and residents, and they are usually not open to
A.A.s in the community. A.A. members are sometimes invited to arrange these
meetings for the patients, and these members often bring in one or two other
speakers. Such meetings are often the responsibility of a local treatment
facility committee. Other times these meetings are arranged by the treatment
facility administrators.
Alcoholics in treatment are often able to go to regular meetings of A.A.
groups in the community. Care should be taken to ensure that groups receive
adequate notice so they can be prepared for the visitors.
All A.A. groups and members should be given the opportunity of sharing in and
doing this type of Twelfth Step work. It has proved a good idea to have members
from many groups serve on these committees. A chairperson is then elected and
plans are developed so that each treatment facility in the area will be assured
of A.A. help and cooperation.
Treatment facilities committees usually convene every month to make
assignments and handle other related business. Some of the committees have
shared the following activities with us. Perhaps some of these ideas and
programs might be used in your area.
1. Workshops have proved an effective way of informing and preparing new
committee members for their work with patients and in sharing the experience
of the member already involved in this form of service.
2. Other areas have developed sets of guidelines that are helpful for A.A.s
newly involved in taking meetings to patients.
3. Many committees have sent letters to all treatment facilities in their
areas explaining what A.A. does and does not do.
4. The video “Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous” has been a useful tool for both
staff and patients.
BASIC FUNCTIONS OF T.F. COMMITTEES
1. With approval of administration, takes A.A. meetings into
facilities within its area.
2. Encourages group participation. In some areas each group has a
representative on the T.F. committee.
3. Coordinates temporary contact programs.
4. Arranges purchase and distribution of literature for these groups and
meetings.
RELATIONSHIP WITH TREATMENT
1. Seeks to understand, respect, and adhere to all treatment
facility regulations.
2. Makes information about A.A.’s function and purpose available.
3. Assists in the formation of new A.A. meetings in treatment facilities.
MEETINGS—SPEAKERS
In some areas, groups are assigned to specific times at
specific facilities and this system works very well. However, sometimes
commitments are not followed through. The major problem seems to be deciding who
is responsible for finding speakers. The specific responsibility can be given
to:
1. The contact chairperson or “meeting sponsor” for each facility, who then
seeks out individual speakers.
2. An individual appointed by the chairperson.
3. The chairperson of the committee, who arranges for rotation among groups in
the area
4. Committee members who assume the total responsibility, rotating the
assignments among themselves, but obtaining other speakers as well.
All people responsible for meetings at treatment facilities concur that the
more outside members who participate, the better. The patient then has an
opportunity to hear varied A.A. talks, and has a better chance to identify.
The importance of dependability cannot be overemphasized.
LITERATURE AND AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS
Most committees feel that adequate literature supplies and
audiovisual materials are essential for treatment center meetings. It is
especially important that each patient is supplied with a list of local A.A.
meetings. Supplies are financed and obtained in several ways:
1. Donated by area or district general service committees or local
intergroups.
2. Purchased with group contributions designated for this purpose.
3. Provided by groups through their T.F. representatives (where the committee
is organized and functioning to this extent).
4. Donated by members of the committee.
5. Special funds:a. Buck of the Month Club—members contribute funds used for treatment
facilities literature.
b. Special meetings or dinners, at which a collection is taken.
c. Special containers at regular meetings, marked “For Treatment Facilities
Literature.”Note: Treatment Facilities Discount Packages are available from G.S.O.
TEMPORARY CONTACTS AND SPONSORSHIP
Experience shows that even though a patient may have been participating in a
group or meeting in a treatment facility, there is anxiety about the transition
to a regular group on the outside. With the reminder that A.A. has only sobriety
to offer, many committees do try to provide some additional personal contact so
this transition period can be made easier. In many places, this is referred to
as “bridging the gap” between treatment and a home group. The pamphlet “Bridging
the Gap” is available from G.S.O.
1. A growing number of areas have established temporary contact programs.
Contact G.S.O. for details.
2. Where there is a local intergroup, newly released patients may be put in
contact with an A.A. member who may act as a temporary sponsor or contact.
3. In some areas, patients are allowed to attend outside meetings and this
makes “bridging the gap” easier.
4. The contact chairperson or meeting sponsor meets the patient when he or she
is discharged from the facility. Since sponsorship is personal, many areas
have found it helpful to have patients select their own sponsors once contact
with the outside has been made.
The initial contacts do not necessarily continue as sponsors, but do serve as
a vital link between the facility and the outside A.A. group.
When G.S.O. receives a request for A.A. contacts from a treatment facility
professional, a friendly letter of explanation about anonymity is sent with a
list of central offices, intergroups and answering services enclosed. The
request is sent to the area delegate for information and follow up as
recommended by the 1994 General Service Conference.
INFORMING THE FELLOWSHIP
As in all A.A. activity, communication of needs and progress is important.
Such communication can be maintained through:
1. Group representatives at district, area or intergroup/central office
meetings.
2. The use of newsletters or bulletins distributed by the area, district or
intergroup/central office. We have heard of one treatment facilities committee
attempting to share information through its own newsletter.
3. Announcements at regular A.A. meetings by T.F. committee members.
4. Treatment facilities workshops at area assemblies and regional or state
conferences and conventions.
5. Monthly committee meetings to which all A.A.s are invited. Committee
minutes help keep everyone well informed and provide a good record of
committee activity and progress. G.S.O. appreciates receiving committee
minutes, if possible.
from “A.A. Guidelines/Treatment
Facilities Committees”
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