Many A.A. members can tell you that, even though we were aware of Alcoholics Anonymous in treatment, we were too fearful to go alone. In order to bridge the gap between the treatment facility and A.A. community, A.A. members have volunteered to be temporary contacts for 30 to 90 days to introduce you to our Alcoholics Anonymous community.
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of having a temporary contact as the essential link between treatment and recovering from alcoholism.
Temporary contacts will pick you up and take you to A.A. meetings, help you find a temporary sponsor, and guide you in your early days of working the A.A. recovery program. No matter how far down the road you have traveled, you can recover from the disease of Alcoholism.
If you are currently in a Treatment Center, please fill out this form to request a temporary contact. The Treatment Temporary Contact Program Coordinator will reach out to you shortly.
Continuing to be of service is an integral aspect of working the A.A. recovery program. Working with newcomers also keeps the disease of alcoholism front and center, ever reminding us that we can never be cured of alcoholism and that our recovery depends upon our spiritual fitness on a daily basis.
If you are looking to volunteer to be a temporary contact, or you are a treatment center looking for more information, please fill out this form. The Treatment Temporary Contact Program Coordinator will reach out to you shortly.
Your job is simple. You contact the new A.A. member and arrange to take them to an A.A. meeting, preferably within 24-48 hours of their discharge. Your commitment is taking them to as many as six meetings.
Please note: It is not intended that you become their sponsor, even temporarily. It is best if the word "sponsor" is not used to describe this type of service. The term "Temporary Contact" is preferred.
Volunteers need to adhere to treatment facility rules regarding contact with residents, both while they are in the facility and after they are discharged. The Treatment Temporary Contact Program Coordinator can provide the necessary information for each facility.
Remember you may be the first outside member of A.A. the contact meets. As such, you are representing all of us. It is important to be relaxed, friendly and interested.
Keep the general conversation related to recovery. Avoid discussing the new member's discharge. We have no opinion on outside issues.
Take time to introduce the new person to as many A.A. members as possible. Do not, however, push your contact. Some people are very shy.
Invite them to the "meeting after the meeting" if there is one. Show them we are happy, joyous and free and that sobriety can be enjoyable.
Your commitment is usually finished after attending six meetings or as soon as a sponsor has been located. Use good recovery related judgment about when to end the relationship.
Make sure the newly released A.A. member receives meeting schedules, phone numbers and A.A. literature.
Encourage the new member to attend meetings as often as possible, to find a home group and to get a sponsor as soon as possible. Let them know even a temporary sponsor now would be acceptable.
Share your experience, strength and hope with the newly discharged member, just as you would anyone else new to A.A. in your community.
Be familiar with the suggestions of the Treatment Temporary Contact Program contained in the pamphlet. We don't offer or imply any other service and assistance unless we personally want to provide it.
Please respect the complete anonymity of the new member.
For more information about the Treatment Temporary Contact Program, please contact the Treatment TCP Coordinator or the Treatment Committee.