alateen group sponsorship: the alateen mee7ng€¦ · • what is said in an alateen meeting is...

AlateenTrainingModuleII

AlateenGroupSponsorship:TheAlateenMee7ng

AFGIdahoArea132018

TheAlateenGroup

EveryAlateengrouphasAlateenGroupSponsor(s)whohavebeencertiBiedintheirAreaasAl-AnonMembersInvolvedinAlateenService(AMIAS).

AlateenMembers:Whotheyare

•  Youngpeopleseekingrecoveryfromtheeffectsofsomeoneelse’sdrinking

•  MembersofAl-AnonFamilyGroupswhostudyandapplytheAl-Anon/AlateenTwelveStepsandTwelveTraditionstotheirownlives

AlateenMembers•  Sharetheirexperience,strength,andhopewitheachother•  Takeresponsibilityforthegroup,themeeting,andtheirownbehavior•  SupporttheactionsoftheirAlateenGroupSponsor(s)tohelpkeeptheirmeetingsafe•  ServeaspersonalSponsorstoeachother

YoungerChildrenandAlateen•  Alateenrequirestheabilitytoparticipateinasharedlearningexperience.•  TeachingisnotcompatiblewiththeAl-Anonprincipleofsharing.•  ParentscanhelptheirchildrenbyattendingAl-Anonthemselves.•  Loweringtheagerangeisuptotheautonomyofthegroup.

YoungerChildrenandAlateenThingstoconsider

•  Settingsafetyguidelinesforyoungerchildren•  Knowingapplicablelawsrelatingtochildrenbelowteenyears

•  PotentialproblemswithsharingfromolderAlateensbeinginappropriatefortheyoungerones

•  Alateensage18andolderarelegallyadults•  AllAlateens,eventhosewhoarelegaladults,mustcomplywiththeAreaAlateenRequirementswhenparticipatingasanAlateen

AlateenGroupSponsors•  ArecertiBiedasAl-AnonMembersInvolvedinAlateenService(NotethatAMIASmustbecertiBiedBirstintheAreainwhichtheylive;ifservingAlateeninaneighboringArea,theymustalsobecertiBiedinthatArea)

•  SupporttheAlateensintakingresponsibilityfortheirownmeeting•  Sharerecovery•  Listen,listen,listen•  AttendAl-Anonmeetingsregularly

WhoCanStartanAlateenGroup?•  TheideacancomefromanAl-Anongroupormember,anA.A.member,acounselor,aschooladministrator,ateacher,anAlateenmember,oranyotheryoungperson•  TostartanAlateenmeeting,theBirststepistomakecontactwiththeDistrictorAreaAlateenCoordinator

Star7nganAlateenGroup•  ContactAreaAlateenCoordinatororDistrictAlateenLiaison/Coordinator

•  ObtainsupportfromoneormoreAl-Anongroupsifpossible

•  ObtaincertiBiedGroupSponsorsandAMIASforbackups

•  Findalocationforaweeklygroupmeeting•  Discussagerange•  RegisterwithWSOthroughAreaProcess•  ReviewtheAlateenServicee-ManualontheMembers’Website,al-anon.org/members.

TheAlateenGroupMee7ng•  AllweeklyAlateenmeetingsare“closed”meetings,regularlyattendedonlybytheAlateensandtheafBiliatedAlateenGroupSponsorsandcertiBiedbackups.*•  Alateengroupsmayholdanoccasional“open”meetingforoutreachpurposes.•  SchoolCounselorsattendIn-Schoolmeetings.•  TheDistrictRepresentative(orotherArea-designatedtrustedservants)aspartoftheirserviceresponsibilitymayoccasionallyattendAlateengroups.

*AnypotentialGroupSponsorsneedtobecertiBiedbeforeattendinganAlateenmeeting.

Al-AnonSupport•  ThesupportofoneormoreestablishedAl-Anonmeetingscanhelptoensuresuccess.

•  TheAl-Anongroupmemberscan:•  EncourageAl-AnonmemberstobecomecertiBiedtoprovideapoolofbackupAlateenGroupSponsors.

•  Bringtheirownchildren/grandchildrentotheAlateenmeeting.

•  MentiontheAlateenmeetingintheirgroupannouncements.

•  HelptheAlateengroupgetstartedBinancially;itisimportantthattheybecomeself-supportingassoonaspossible.

•  WelcomeAlateens,particularlythosetransitioning,totheAl-Anonmeeting.

AFGIdahoArea13Cer7fica7onProcessforAl-AnonMembersInvolvedinAlateenService(AMIAS)

•  TobecomeanAMIAS,followtheinstructionandusetheformsfoundsundertheAlateensectionoftheAreawebsitehttp://www.al-anon-idaho.org/alateenoraskyourDistrictRepforthename/contactinfooftheAreaAlateenCoordinator/AlateenProcessPerson.

•  EnsurethatyoucompleteAMIAStrainingwithin3monthsofbeingnotiBiedthatyouhavebeenapprovedandassignedanAMIASnumber.ContactyourAlateenCoordinatororDistrictRepabouthowtrainingcanbecompleted.

Star7nganAlateenGroupFindingaloca7on•  ItishelpfultoseekameetingroomatthesametimeandplaceasanestablishedAl-Anongroup.

•  Ateenclubhouse,mallcommunityroom,orjuvenilefacilitymayprovideafamiliarandcomfortableplaceforanAlateenmeeting.*

•  Sometimesaprofessionalwilloffermeetingspace;iftheyareinapositiontoreferteenstothemeeting,thiscanbeawin-winlocation.

•  Considertransportationandsafetyissues.•  Choosealocationwhereotheradultswillbepresent.NeverholdanAlateenmeetinginanisolatedlocationwithonlyoneAMIASsponsoring.

IdahoArea13ProcessforAlateenGroupRegistra7on•  WSOwillonlyregistergroupsthroughtheAreaprocess

•  TheAlateenGroupSponsors,CMA,andgroupcontactsmustbeArea-certiBiedAMIAS

•  FillouttheGR-3formcompletely.MailittotheAreaAlateenProcessPerson(AAPP).OremailtotheAAPP.

•  ForemailoraddressoftheAAPP,askyourDistrictReporDistrictAlateenCoordinator.DoNOTsendtotheAreaGroupRecordscoordinator.

RoleofAlateenGroupSponsorsintheAlateenMee7ng•  ProvidedirectiontoassurethatemphasisisplacedontheAl-Anonprogramofrecovery

•  Tothebestoftheirability,maintainanatmospherethatwillprotecttheAlateenmembersfromphysicalandemotionalharm

•  Maintainappropriateadultbehavior•  EncourageAlateenstokeeporderandtakeresponsibilityforthemselvesandthemeeting

•  WorkwithothersforthegoodofAlateen•  MaintaintheirownAl-Anonrecovery

RoleofAlateenGroupSponsorsAtevents/servicemee7ngsinthedistrict/Area

•  TakeresponsibilityfortheAlateensintheircare•  WorkwithArea13ordistricteventstobesurethereisaplaninplaceforAlateensafetyincompliancewithArea13Requirements•  BecomefamiliarwithArea13RequirementsandallWSOandArea13AlateenGuidelines•  CommunicatewithdistrictandAreaAlateenCoordinatorsandparticipateinAMIAStraining

TheAlateenMee7ngSafetyandBehavior

•  AlateenGroupSponsorssetsafetyparametersforthemeeting.Safetymattersarenotsubjecttogroupvoteorapproval.*

•  AlateenGroupSponsorsencouragethegrouptosettheirownbehavioralguidelinesandconsequencesforviolations.

•  Participationinsettingtherulescanincreasesupportofthem.Resources:•  AlateenSafetyGuidelines(G-34)•  AreaRequirements(includingstatelawsregardingminors)•  Al-Anon/AlateenServiceManual(P-24/27)•  Alateene-Manual(availableontheWSOwebsite)*Alateenmeetingsheldinschoolsmustcomplywithallschoolsafetyprecautions/rules.

TheAlateenMee7ngProcedures•  AlateenmemberschairthemeetingsandassumeresponsibilityforbeingGroupRepresentative(GR),Secretary,andTreasurer.*•  AlateenGroupSponsorsmaycoachmembersinleadingthemeetingwhenthegroupisnew.•  AlateenGroupSponsorshelptokeepthemeetingontrackbygentlyguidingthediscussiontostayonAl-Anon/Alateenprinciples.

*anAlateenGroupSponsorshouldholdanygroupfunds.InstitutionalorschoolmeetingsarenotallowedtocollectmoneyfromAlateens.

In-schoolmeetingsusuallydonotelectgroupofBicers.

TheAlateenMee7ngTopic/FormatIdeasWheretoBindmeetingideas:•  Al-Anon/AlateenGroupsatWork(P-24)•  Basicmeetingformat•  Meetingideas

•  ConferenceApprovedLiterature(CAL)•  AlateenTalk,TheForum•  Steps,Traditions,Slogans

Meetingformatsinclude:discussion,speakers,questionandanswer,writing

PeriodicmeetingsonSponsorshipcanhelptheAlateenstosponsoreachotherpeer-to-peer

TheAlateenMee7ngTakingCareofBusiness

•  Grouptrustedservants•  GroupcontactsandCurrentMailingAddress(CMA)mustbecertiBiedadults

•  AlateensBillothergrouppositions,includingGR•  LearnwhendistrictandAreameetingsareheld

•  Keepinggroupinformationupdated•  SendupdatestotheAreaAlateenProcessPerson(AAPP),whowillrelaychangestotheWSOGroupRecordsDepartment

•  KnowyourAreaprocessforupdatingyourlocalmeetingdirectory

•  Transportation•  WhenAl-AnonmembersprovidetransportationasaservicetoAlateen,theyneedtobecertiBiedaccordingtoArea13Alateenprocess

ParentsandtheAlateenGroupSponsor

•  WhatissaidinanAlateenmeetingisconBidential.JustasinAl-Anonmeetings,“Whomyouseehere,whatyouhearhere,whenyouleavehere,letitstayhere”applies.•  GroupSponsorskeepAlateens’conBidencesanddonotinterfereinparent/childrelationshipsorchallengeparentalauthority.•  AlateensandAl-AnonmemberscansharewithparentshowAl-Anoncanhelpthem,andencourageparentstotryAl-Anonmeetingsthemselves.

AlateenandtheLawTheAlateenGroupSponsorneedstobeawareofcurrentstateandlocallawsregardingmandatoryreportingofissuesrelatedtominors.Ifyouresideinastateorprovincethathassuchlaws,theAlateensshouldbemadeawareofthisateachmeetingbeforesharingbegins,asAl-Anon/AlateenconBidentialityisnotabovethelaw.

AlateenandtheLaw•  InIdaho,ChildAbuseorNeglectlawsrequireanyAdultwhosuspectsabusetoreportitwithin24hours.

•  CallHealth&WelfareanonymouslyinBoiseat208-334-0808.OranywhereinIdaho,calltheIdahoCareline,211or1-800-926-2588toBindyourlocalH&Wagency.

•  SchoolCounselorsaremandatoryreportersforAlateenmeetingsheldinschools.

AlateenandtheLawSincereportingismandatory,howdowepreparetheAlateens?•  Alateensmustbemadeawareofyourlegalreportingresponsibility.

•  Anonymitywillberespectedinallcases,exceptifanAlateentalksabouthurtingthemselvesorsomeoneelse,orbeinghurt.Then,theirsafetytakesprecedent.

•  Discussthisateverymeeting,beforesharingbegins,sothattheyhaveachoiceinthesubjectstheyshare.ConsideraddingthistotheMeetingOpening.

AlateenandtheLaw•  Abuse/sexualharassmentisoftenamatterofperception.Don’tputyourselfinasituationwhereyouractionscouldbemisinterpreted.

•  Becarefulwithhugging,touching,language,andyourappearance.ItisrecommendedthatAMIASnotinitiatehugsoranyphysicalcontact.

•  Don’tbealonewithanAlateen.Nopersonalsponsorships.Alwayshaveanothersponsor/adultpresentifyou’rewithanAlateen.

WhatParentsNeedtoKnowaboutAlateen

•  Whoiswiththeirchildren•  Whatsafetymeasuresareinplace•  Whenparentalpermissionformsarerequired•  InformationaboutAlateenevents

HelpingtheAlateenGrouptoGrow

•  WorkwithyourlocalPublicOutreachCommittee•  Informationtolocalschools,churches,counselingcenters•  ParticipateindistrictandAl-AnonInformationService(AIS)meetingsandevents•  ContactyourAreaorDistrictAlateenCoordinatorforinformationregardingAreaAlateenRequirementsandPublic

Outreach

Star7nganAlateenGroupMee7ngsinSchools•  JustaswithotherAlateengroups,meetingsinschoolsmustbeincompliancewiththeAreaAlateenSafetyandBehavioralRequirements.

•  MeetingswithschoolofBicialsmayrequirepreparationtoeducatethestaffonwhatAlateenisandisnot.

•  Workingwithschoolregulationsmayrequirediplomacyandnegotiation.Forexample,someschooldistrictsmayrequirethatschoolpersonnelsitinonthemeetings.

•  SeeguidelineAlateenMeetingsInSchools(G-5)fortipsandsuggestions.

*Alateenmeetingsheldinschoolsmustcomplywithallschoolsafetyprecautions/rules.

Al-Anon/AlateenLiteratureandotherMaterials•  ConferenceApprovedLiterature•  Recoverybooks,pamphlets,booklets

•  Guidelines•  Al-Anon/AlateenServiceManual(P-24/27)•  AlateenTalk(quarterly)*•  TheForum(monthly)**•  Alateene-Manual(onWSOwebsite)•  WSOandAreawebsites:•  al-anon.org•  al-anon-idaho.org

*Englishonly.ExcerptsaretranslatedtoFrenchandSpanishandpostedonal-anon.org.

**Englishonly.Spanish-andFrench-speakingAl-AnonandAlateengroupsreceiveEnAccionandLeLienrespectivelyBivetimesayear.

InClosing•  WelcometotheworldofservicetoAlateen!•  AreaAlateenCoordinator/AreaAlateenProcessPerson:Name:Phone:E-mail:

•  Districtcontactforquestions:•  ContactyourDistrictRep