Hilltoppers-AFG Alateen Area

     Alateens     Starting an Alateen Group     Alateen Sponsorship

Who Are Alateens?     Top of Page

Alateens are young people who are or have been confronted by problems of alchholic drinking in parents, relatives, or friends. As msmber of the Al-Anon fellowship, Alateens share ideas and experience to gain a better understanding of alcoholism an so lessen its effect on their own lives.

Alateen members learn to accept alcoholism as a disease. Knowledge of the Twelve Steps helps Alateens realize they do not have the power to change another person. In Alateen, they learn the importance of shifting their attention from preoccupation with the alcoholic's behavior, to a heightened awareness of their own identity and self-improvement.

Age Range: Alateens are members of the Al-Anon fellowship, and as the name implies, Alateen is designed for members in their teens. There are younger children, however, who need and are ready for Alateen. The decision to lower the age of admission below the teen years is up to the autonomy of each Alateen Group. All members beyond the teen years are encouraged to attend Al-Anon meetings.

How an Alateen Group Is Started     Top of Page

Groups are usually started at the suggestion of an Al-Anon or AA parent, a clergyman or social worker familiar with the problem, or sometimes the teenagers themselves. Those seeking sponsorship for a group may find volunteers by contacting a nearby Al-Anon group, if there is one. If not, the interested people may write to the World Service Office (WSO) for further direction. When Al-Anon members have agreed to serve as Sponsors, they should write to the WSO which will propose the group and send some pamphlets, a registration from and Sponsor's Questionnaire. When both forms are filled out and returned to the WSO, the group is registered and added to the mailing list. The group then receives, without charge, a three ring binder that contains a complimentary packet of literature, Inside Al-Anon Xtra and Alateen's own quarterly newsletter, Alateen Talk.

It's important that the registration form be completed with care. The Alateen members should also be aware that the name of their group contact is used by the WSO as a contact for individual teens looking for help. Keeping the group contact's name current is very important, especially to the new person who may be given the name and telephone number to call.

Asking nearby Al-Anon and AA groups to announce the time and place of Alateen meetings may attract new members to the group. Social workers, religious advisors, school teachers (particularly guidance counselors) and local community centers should be notified of the existence and purpose of the Alateen group so they will know where to refer young people troubled by a family alcoholism problem.

Meeting Place and Time: To help with transportation arrangements, Alateen groups may meet at the same location and time as an Al-Anon or AA group. Meetings should, of course, be held in separate rooms to assure privacy.

Frequency of Meetings: Groups which meet each week are apt to be more firmly established from the outset. Weekly meetings give members more frequent opportunity to work on the program and apply it to their daily lives.

Closed and Open Meetings: Closed meetings, which are attended exclusively by teenagers and the Sponsors, usually promote a greater receptivity and exchange among the Alateen members, as some Alateens may feel inhibited by the presence of other adults, especially if their parents are present. It is understandable that the adult members of our fellowship may be interested in how an Alateen group functions; therefore, an occasional open meeting may be held. These open meetings are a wonderful way of keeping open communication between Al-Anon and Alateen. Some well-established Alateen groups hold open meetings at regular intervals.

Finances: Support for the group - literature, refreshments, rent, etc. - may present difficulties at first, but any help provided by adults in the fellowship should be discontinued as soon as the Alateens can make themselves self-sustaining. It gives the members a heartening sense of independence to assume this financial responsibility.

Sponsorship     Top of Page

The personal interest of sponsors to whom the members can relate is of the highest importance. Neighboring Al-Anon groups can generate interest in Alateen by encouraging their members to become sponsors. It is the sponsor's responsibility to see to it that someone is there to replace him in the event that he cannot attend the Alateen meeting.

Sponsors Provide:

• A core of stability and guidance to the group
• Experience gained in Al-Anon
• Guidance in establishing the group's structure and functions: election of officers, planning programs, administration of funds, selecting and ordering literature.

Sponsors Can:

• Stress the importance of anonymity, not only for the parents, but for all members of Al-Anon, Alateen, and AA. This can be done without instilling a feeling of shame or secrecy.
• Encourage the Alateen groups to get involved in service, especially at the District and Assembly levels.

All this is purely a matter if guidance; the members themselves should, as soon as possible, assume these responsibilities.

Effective Sponsorship of an Alateen Group Depends Upon:

• A love and desire to help and understand teenagers,
• Keeping an open mind when Alateens share,
• A sound background and continual gaining of experience in the Al-Anon fellowship; a knowledge of the Twelve Steps as they are applied personally,
• A willingness to answer questions regarding Policy and Traditions by quoting Conference-Approved Literature, being careful not to give personal viewpoints,
• Knowing the community resources available for other problems when a member asks for extra help while being cautious not to give advice or specific directions,
• Reminding the members of the primary purpose of Alateen when there is a tendency to stress social activity instead of concentrating on the program.
• Willingness to allow members every possible opportunity for free expression without domination. (The Sponsor should not lecture, or ask questions concerning parental behavior or parents' marital problems.)
• Encouraging the group's chair person to assume the responsibility of keeping to the topic under discussion, allowing members to concentrate on Alateen principles with emphasis on the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, or Slogans.
• A willingness to listen, being careful not to offer suggestions about their personal lives. Alateens, in sharing with each other, often find their own answers.

Once accepted, the sponsor is entrusted with many of the troubles and fears of the teenagers. Failure to keep this trust may mean that all the good that has been accomplished will be lost.

As an Alateen sponsor, you have the same responsibility and potential liability to an Alateen member as you would if you invited any minor to your own home.

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