Purpose
Treatment 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 and outpatient settings, and to set up means of “bridging the gap” from the facility to an A.A. group in the individual’s community. From Treatment Committees, A.A. Guidelines:
“Accessibility issues apply to all alcoholics who have difficulties participating in Alcoholics Anonymous, whether those difficulties are mental, physical, geographic, cultural, ethnic, spiritual, or emotional. While there are no special alcoholics, there are alcoholics who face additional personal barriers to accessing the A.A. message. Persons who have visual and auditory challenges, those who are housebound or chronically ill, those who are living with the effects of brain damage or stroke, and many others who may have less visible challenges.”
From Accessibility for Alcoholics Guidelines.
What Does the Treatment and Accessibilities Committee Do?
- With approval of the facility administration, takes A.A. meetings into facilities within Area 10.
- Encourages group participation. In some districts each group has a representative on the T.F. committee.
- Works closely with Central Offices and Intergroups in Area 10 to support Bridge the Gap (BTG)
- Arranges purchase and distribution of literature for groups and meetings.
Ways you or your group can help:
- Volunteer to take a meeting into a facility (Weekly, Monthly, Bi-Monthly)
- Visit one Treatment meeting (It really does make a difference)
- Sign up to be a Bridge the Gap Volunteer
- Talk with your District Treatment Rep and ask them if they need help
- Volunteer to bring literature to a facility
- Volunteer to share your story at a DUI Class
- Help Start a new meeting
- If you don’t have Treatment in your district right now, help get it going or see if neighboring districts could use your help
Temporary Contact Programs to “Bridge the Gap” between Treatment and A.A.
If you are in need of a Bridge the Gap or you would like more information, please refer to the pamphlet or contact any of the following Central Offices and Intergroups in Area 10:
Boulder: 303-447-8201
Colorado Springs: 719-573-5020
Denver: 303-322-4440
Ft. Collins: 970-224-3552
Grand Junction: 970-245-9649
Pueblo: 719-546-1173
Area Treatment Monthly Meetings:
Who: All are welcome to join
When: 1st Saturday of the Month 9:00-10:45 AM
Location: 231 Buckley Club 15210 E 6th Ave, Aurora
Join Zoom Meeting: email treatment@coloradoaa.org for the Zoom information and any other assistance
History:
Ever 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.
Service to treatment facilities used to be combined with correction 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 A.A. Comes of Age.
To become a volunteer or to find out more about Area 10 Treatment work, send an email to the Treatment Chair at treatment@coloradoaa.org.