Guidelines for Treatment Committees
HOW A.A.s CARRY THE MESSAGE TO ALCOHOLICS
IN TREATMENT FACILITIES
In trying to help the alcoholic who is in a mental institution, treatment
center, or detox, members of Alcoholics Anonymous 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, 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 centers and detoxification centers, 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.
- 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.
- Other areas have developed sets of guidelines that are helpful for A.A.s
newly involved in taking meetings to patients.
- Many committees have sent letters to all treatment facilities in their areas
explaining what A.A. does and does not do.
- The video “Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous” has been a useful tool for
both staff and patients.
BASIC FUNCTIONS OF T.F. COMMITTEES
- With approval of administration, takes A.A. meetings into facilities
within its area.
- Encourages group participation. In some areas each group has a
representative on the T.F. committee.
- Coordinates temporary contact programs.
- Arranges purchase and distribution of literature for these groups and meetings.
RELATIONSHIP WITH TREATMENT
- Seeks to understand, respect, and adhere to all treatment facility regulations.
- Makes information about A.A.’s function and purpose available.
- 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:
- The contact chairperson or "meeting sponsor" for each facility,
who then seeks out individual speakers.
- An individual appointed by the chairperson.
- The chairperson of the committee, who arranges for rotation among groups
in the area.
- 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:
- Donated by area or district general service committees or local intergroups.
- Purchased with group contributions designated for this purpose.
- Provided by groups through their T.F. representatives
(where the committee is organized and functioning to this extent).
- Donated by members of the committee.
- Special funds:
- Buck of the Month Club—members contribute funds used for
treatment facilities literature.
- Special meetings or dinners, at which a collection is taken.
- 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.
- A growing number of areas have established temporary contact programs.
Contact G.S.O. for details.
- 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.
- In some areas, patients are allowed to attend outside meetings and this
makes "bridging the gap" easier.
- 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:
- Group representatives at district, area or intergroup/central office meetings.
- 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.
- Announcements at regular A.A. meetings by T.F. committee members.
- Treatment facilities workshops at area assemblies and regional or state
conferences and conventions.
- 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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