Treatment

Purpose: The Mid-Southern California Area 09 Treatment Facilities Committee coordinates the work of individual A.A. members and groups who are interested in carrying our message of recovery to alcoholics in hospital/treatment facilities, and to set up means of “Bridging the Gap” from treatment to A.A. in the individual’s community. The Treatment Facilities (henceforth T.F.) Committee also works to clarify what A.A. can and cannot do, within the Traditions, to help alcoholics in treatment.

Basic Functions of the MSCA09 T.F. Committee

1. Support A.A. meetings in facilities within the Area.
2. Encourage group participation.
3. Coordinate temporary contact programs (bridging the gap).
4. Arrange purchase and distribution of literature for these groups & meetings.
5. Arrange for informational presentations to the facilities’ staff for the purpose of explaining what A.A. is and is not.

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. Seeks to support treatment facilities with Bridging the Gap program and connecting the newcomer to support.

— Taken from the A.A.® Guidelines on Treatment Committees from N.Y.

 How it Works: The Alcoholics Anonymous Bridging the Gap program matches a newcomer with a Temporary Contact to make the transition from a facility into A.A. To help newcomers with this transition, you can act as a Temporary Contact (see A.A.’s Bridging the Gap pamphlet P-49).  It’s an excellent way to be of service by giving the newcomer a good start on the path to long-term recovery.  This is a short-term commitment.

A.A. suggests that the Temporary Contact accompany the newcomer at a limited number and variety of meetings; make introductions to other A.A.’s; ensure that the newcomer has phone numbers; and, share the experience and benefits of sponsorship and a home group.  This is basic 12th step work.

We always need volunteers and you can be of service in any capacity. Click the link below to visit the Area 9 BTG website to sign a newcomer up or sign up to be a volunteer.

Link: Area 9 Bridging the Gap Website

Resources for Meetings & Links: Click to visit the District Resources  section for the BTG District Kit which includes pertinent forms, guidelines, and related A.A. literature.

Committee Meetings: You can join us at the Area 9 ASA/ASC meetings and our Committee meeting that meets on Zoom every 4th Thursday of month (click the blue Contact Us button to email us a request for the meeting invite).

Our purpose is to extend a hand, in the spirit of our Twelve Steps of Recovery, to assist the newcomer to find the same help in staying sober that we ourselves found.