Area 81
1.
Q. What is the definition of an Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service?
A. An Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service is an Al-Anon member who is directly responsible for Alateens while being of service to Alateen, who:
- must attend at least three other Al-Anon meetings monthly on a regular basis
- must be at least 21 years old
- must have at least two years in Al-Anon in addition to any time spent in Alateen
-
has
not been convicted of an indictable offience, and has
not with child abuse or any other inappropriate sexual behavior, and has not
demonstrated emotional problems which could result in harm to Alateen members
2.
Q. In Alateen meetings, we sometimes do not have enough “Sponsors” and the Alateens request an Alternate, from the Al-Anon meeting. Does this mean we cannot have an Alternate “Sponsor"?
A. No. However, the Alternate “Sponsor” must have completed the Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service Form and must meet the Area requirements. Al-Anon groups may want to further support Alateen by encouraging several Al-Anon members to complete the Area requirement process to ensure there are always two “Sponsors” at every meeting.
3.
Q. What if we are having a fundraising event, such as a potluck or dance for Alateens – does everyone who attends have to meet the Area requirements?
A. The Area feels that anyone being of service to Alateen would need to meet the Area requirements, but members participating by attending a dinner or a dance would not need to meet the Area requirements, as they are not responsible for the Alateens.
4.
Q. What is certification?
A. Certification is a formal acknowledgement by the Area that the member has met the Area requirements. The Area is NOT certifying the member’s future performance or behavior, only that the member has met the Area’s requirements for being of service to Alateen.
5.
Q. How will the Area certify someone?
A. An Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service Package contains all the necessary information and forms and will be available to anyone who wishes to apply to become involved in Alateen service.
6.
Q. What about members of AA, can they be certified?
A. AA members who are also Al-Anon members and meet the Area requirements can be certified.
7.
Q.
How
will Areas inform
A.
An
Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service Form is being developed by
8.
Q. Who is the Area authorized signature/s on the Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service Form?
A. The Area authorized signature/s has been determined by BC/Yukon to be the Area Alateen Process Person (AAPP), the District Alateen Liaison and the District Representative of the District the member is applying from.
9.
Q. Is the Area supposed to make sure this new form gets completed by all current “Sponsors”? If so, how will the Area know who the “Sponsors” are?
A.
Yes.
All Al-Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service in the Area will need to
complete the form. A major problem regarding Alateen meeting information
is that many meetings have not updated their “Sponsor”
information. The Area Group Records Coordinator receives lists of all Al-Anon and Alateen meetings registered in the Area on a
biannual basis. In addition to those mailings, as a one-time start up
process in order to assist Areas in implementing
the Board motion, Alateen Coordinators (or AAPP if there is a separate
position) will be sent a list of Alateen Groups with active or suspended
registrations with the
10.
Q. What is the process for Alateen Group registration and certification for an Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service?
A. The Area process
requires that all information, including the group registration form, and forms
for
Al-Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service first goes
to the District Alateen Liaison or District Representative for signature, and
then to the Area Alateen Process Person (AAPP) for signature. It is then
sent to the
11.
Q. Can Area requirements be revised?
A. Yes,
once Assembly has affirmed them, they can be revised, as deemed necessary,
as long as they still meet the minimum Board requirements.
12.
Q. What are the Area requirements for behavior at Alateen groups?
A. Each Alateen group is required to develop their own behavior guidelines for meeting places - before, during and after attendance, including at District and Area functions, keeping in mind Traditions 1 and 4. There is a Sample Behaviour Guidelines Form for reference and also an Area Permission and Transport of Alateen Form that will be required to be completed for Alateen participation and attendance at some events.
Minimum Safety and Behavior Requirements:
13.
Q. Does an indictable offense conviction from even many years ago disqualify a member? What if the conviction had nothing to do with children?
A. All convictions, regardless of the type of
crime or when the conviction took place, disqualify a member from being of service with direct
contact and care of Alateens.
14.
Q. My Area requires Criminal Record Checks, so will all Al-Anon members directly involved with Alateen service, even those who are not “Sponsors”, need to comply?
A. No. Only the Alateen Coordinator, Alternate Alateen Coordinator, Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service and Alternate Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service will be required by our Area to comply.
There may be a cost to have a Criminal Record Check conducted, although some cities or towns may provide it for free for a volunteer in a non-profit organization. Any costs should be the responsibility of the District and if they are unable to pay, then Assembly will provide the funds.
15.
Q. Item number six of the Minimum Safety and Behavioral Requirements states that Area requirements must be reviewed by local counsel.
Can this person be an Al-Anon member?
A. Yes. And, a legal opinion should be in writing, otherwise there is no recourse if given bad or incomplete advice.
16.
Q Can the legal counsel be a member of AA or a relative of an Al-Anon member? Would this be in keeping with Tradition 7?
A. Yes, and they can charge at a reduced rate if they do so for other non-profits groups. As we are self-supporting through our own contributions, a fee of some kind must be paid. They should render a written opinion of the requirements.
17.
Q. In
the Minimum Safety and Behavioural Requirements, it states “and have
not demonstrated emotional problems which could result in harm to Alateen members”. Some Al-Anon
members have in the past demonstrated emotional
problems which could have resulted in harm to their children or others.
Are these members eligible to be Al-Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service?
A. The requirement refers to current emotional problems. Occasionally a member in service to Alateen, may, due to personal difficulties, be having emotional problems that impact their ability to be of service to Alateen. The Area may decide to ask that member to step aside as an Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service for a while.
18.
Q. Are signed parental permission forms required for Alateen to attend Alateen meetings?
A. Areas are required to have procedures for parental permission and medical care when applicable. Usually “when applicable” would refer to an event outside the meeting such as when an Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service or other Al-Anon member is providing transportation for Alateens, or for attendance at an Alateen event, convention or conference. It is up to the Area to determine when parental permission and medical information forms are needed.Many schools require permission slips for Alateens to attend meetings during school hours.
19.
Q What about Alateens whose parents are not aware that they are attending an Alateen meeting or event? Their parents and/or guardians may be active alcoholics.
A.
There may be times when you wish to give an Alateen a ride
to the meeting. Always make sure that a parent or legal guardian knows that you are transporting the Alateen. If
the parent is unaware of their child’s attendance at meetings, advise the child that you will honor is/her confidentiality,
but that other transportation will need to be arranged. You could face
serious difficulties if a parent or legal guardian discovers you are
transporting a child without permission and potential liability if there is an
automobile accident with a child in the vehicle. Refusing to give a ride
can be difficult. It may be the only way a child from an alcoholic home can get
to the meeting. We want
to help, but our Al-Anon program helps us gain the wisdom to know
what is best for everyone involved. A way to avoid the transportation
problem is to sponsor an Alateen meeting at a
school.
20.
Q. The fourth requirements says that the Area must prohibit conduct contrary to applicable laws and this sounds like an outside issue.
Should we discuss laws at our meetings?
A. Alateen Groups, Al-anon Members Involved
in Alateen Service, and Areas have a responsibility to be knowledgeable about
the laws that affect them. Knowing and obeying the law is not an outside
issue; however some discussions, such as in regards to changing a law, would be
outside issues. Al-Anon and Alateen members are not above the law.
21.
Q. What can Areas use for training, now that A Guide to Alateen Sponsorship-An Unforgettable Adventure (P-86) has been discontinued?
A. Portions of P-86 can be used until new Alateen literature can be published. A bookmark indicating the usable portions of the latest edition of P-86 has been made available to each Al-Anon and Alateen group. Area Alateen Coordinators have also been sent a supply and it can be photocopied.
22.
Q. Is the Area Authorized Signature guaranteeing that the Al-Anon member will follow the Safety and Behaviour Requirements?
A. No. The Area Authorized Signature is confirming that to thebest of his/her knowledge the Al-Anon member involved in Alateen service meets the Area’s requirements. The Area Authorized Signature is not taking responsibility for the behaviour of another member.
23.
Q. Can the Area Authorized Signature be sued if the Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service harms an Alateen?
A. Anyone can be sued for anything. However, when the Area Authorized Signature takes diligent care in confirming that the Member has met the Area requirements, the likelihood of being sued is minimal, and, if sued, the likelihood of damages being awarded is even smaller.