Anonymity of the students is an essential factor Suggested Reading

in deciding on the location and scheduled time of Alateen: Hope for Children of Alcoholics (B-3)
meetings.

How Can the Anonymity of the Student

Alateen a day at a time (B-10)
Courage to Be Me - Living With Alcoholism (B-23) Information
be Maintained when Parental Permission
for Educators
Living Today in Alateen (B-26)
is Required? Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions for Alateen (P-18)
When parental permission for certain age-level Youth and the Alcoholic Parent (P-21)
students is required, some schools have used a blan- Facts About Alateen (P-41)
ket permission form. The form might read: “Our Moving On! From Alateen to Al-Anon (P-59)
school offers many programs for our students. Please
indicate in the space provided if you do not want Who to Contact for Guidance Alateen Meetings
your child attending a particular program with the
word NO, sign and return this form.” A description
The Al-Anon Area Delegate will furnish the name
of a local representative who will work with you in
In Schools
of Alateen is clearly listed. This method has been establishing an Alateen meeting and in providing
successfully used for years by some schools and resources. To obtain the name of the Area Delegate,
maintains the anonymity of the student by listing all see the address and numbers listed below.
school programs.
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
Further Information World Service Office
Schools can use Alateen literature within other 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway
types of meetings. The meeting cannot be identi- Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617
fied or registered as an Alateen meeting without an Phone: (757) 563-1600 Fax: (757) 563-1655
Al‑Anon member as a Sponsor. www.al-anon.alateen.org
wso@al-anon.org
The Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
World Service Office (WSO) provides information
about starting and maintaining an Alateen group.
Local Al-Anon groups are also resources for infor-
mation as well as sources of Al-Anon Sponsors.
Publications are available from the WSO, local
If you are
Al-Anon groups, Al-Anon literature distribution
centers and information services. A catalog of litera- considering starting
ture and a listing of local services may be obtained an Alateen group
through the WSO. within your school,
Information about Al-Anon and Alateen can be this information
presented to schools by means of:
could be helpful.
• Faculty workshops
• School assemblies & health fairs
• Articles in school newspapers
The Alateen Coordinator in your state or province
can help you by providing local resource information.

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS

10-8 S-64 Printed in U.S.A. hope for families & friends of alcoholics
5
 What If Staff Members are Required to
If you are considering starting an Alateen group within your school, this informa- be Present?
tion could be helpful. Included are answers to basic questions that educators and school If a staff member must be in attendance because of
school policy, the Alateen members are told that staff
administrators most frequently ask. The answers are based on the experience of school members are required by law to report certain types
personnel, members of the Al-Anon and Alateen program and students who attend of information to the appropriate authority. In keep-
Alateen meetings in schools. ing with Alateen mutual support policies, an Alateen
meeting is not an opportunity for staff to counsel
students. It is essential for staff members to safe-
guard the anonymity and confidentiality of Alateen
members. An open mind and a quiet presence is
How Will the Student Benefit from an Is Alateen a Religious Program? most instrumental for the Alateens to succeed.
Alateen Meeting in School? Alateen is not a religious program. Religion, out-
When Is the Best Time To Schedule an
The disease of alcoholism in a family member or side organizations, and counseling are not discussed
in the meetings. There is Alateen Meeting?
friend affects children and teenagers in many dif-
ferent ways that impact on their behavior and ulti- recognition of a “Power Many schools have the meetings on a rotating
mately, their school work. Frequently, students and greater than ourselves.” Alateen is not a schedule so students do not miss the same class each
educators do not realize that a relationship with an The Twelve Steps and religious program. week. Attendance at the Alateen meeting is con-
alcoholic could be a factor. Twelve Traditions of sidered the same as attendance at a class. In some
Alateen, an integral part of the Al‑Anon Family Alateen do contain the schools, students are
word “God” as a universal term for a Higher Power. issued a pass “to the
Groups, is a fellowship of young people whose lives Students are informed
have been affected by alcoholism in a family member Al-Anon/Alateen does not require that an opening or guidance office” for
the specified time of that scheduled tests or
or friend. Alateen helps young people understand closing prayer be said.
the Alateen meet- events mandated by
how alcoholism affects the lives of all who are associ-
ated with a problem drinker. Does Al-Anon Provide Adult Supervision ing. This procedure school personnel take
Alateen members meet to discuss their com- in an Alateen Meeting? maintains the ano- priority over attending
Yes, Alateen is a part of Al-Anon. Al-Anon mem- nymity of the stu-
mon problems, share experience, and encourage one an Alateen meeting.
another. They help each other learn effective ways of bers sponsor Alateen groups sharing their experi- dent. Once at the
dealing with their personal problems by using the ence, strength, and hope of having been affected by meeting, students
principles of the Al-Anon/Alateen program. someone’s drinking and their recovery in Al-Anon. sign in and sign out when they leave the meeting.
Alateen meetings In order to be registered as an Alateen group, there The Sponsors return the in/out sheet to the guidance
in schools have been must be at least one Alateen Group Sponsor at each office at the conclusion of the meeting. In keeping
extremely successful
Alateen helps young meeting (two are recommended) who meets their with the principles of the Alateen program, the stu-
in many areas of the people understand Area's Alateen requirements and is currently certi- dents are responsible for their own attendance and
U.S. and Canada. how alcoholism affects fied to be of service to Alateen through their Area must face the consequences predetermined by the
Some children and Alateen process. school for cutting class. Students are informed that
the lives of all who scheduled tests or events mandated by school person-
teens don’t have an School personnel who are also Al-Anon members
are associated with a may serve as Sponsors. Experience has shown that nel take priority over attending an Alateen meeting.
opportunity to get
to a meeting outside
problem drinker. Alateen members in meetings sponsored by school The experience at some schools reveals that meet-
of the school envi- staff experience more difficulty in establishing the ings held before school, during lunch hours, and after
ronment because of age, time, place, and home-life trust necessary between member and Sponsor. school have a lower rate of attendance. Furthermore,
situations. In addition, public or private transporta- the student’s anonymity becomes compromised if
tion may not be available, particularly in rural areas. they are seen before or after school hours or are not
seen by their peers during lunchtime.

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