Alateen Training Module I ���Overview of Alateen Service

Area 52 Alateen

Alateen is. . .

• …part of Al-Anon Family Groups.
• …a fellowship of young people whose lives have been affected by alcoholism in a family member or close friend.

(from the Alateen Suggested Preamble)

Alateen is not…

• A program for young people seeking sobriety.
• A therapy program.

Alateen Includes…

• Alateen members
• Area-certified Al-Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS) to serve as Alateen Group Sponsors
• Alateen Group Meetings
• Resources to Alateen:
• Supportive Al-Anon groups & members
• Supportive local service arms (district/AIS)
• Area trusted servants
• World Service Office (WSO)

Alateen Members

• Are members of Al-Anon Family Groups who are seeking recovery from the effects of someone else’s drinking.
• Share their experience, strength, and hope with each other.
• Are generally teenagers; may include

younger family members.

�2003 Alateen Motion

• Required Areas to set safety and behavioral requirements for all Alateens and all Al-Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS).
• These requirements apply to all use of the Al-Anon or Alateen name in conjunction with any meetings, groups, conventions, or any other gatherings in the Area where Alateen participation is offered.
• More information on Alateen safety is posted in the “Alateen Service e-Manual” on the WSO Members’ Website, www.al-anon.org/members.

Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS)

• Is an Al-Anon member who is directly responsible for Alateens while being of service to Alateen.
• Each Area clearly defines what roles that involves.
• “Instant” or backup Alateen Group Sponsors must have completed certification through the Area Process.
• All AMIAS have been certified by their Al-Anon Area.

Alateen Safety and Behavioral Requirements

• Minimum Requirements were set by the 2003 Alateen Motion.
• Each Area’s Alateen Safety and Behavioral Requirements must meet or exceed the minimums.
• Alateen meetings, groups, events, and Al-Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS) must comply with the Area Requirements.

Minimum Safety and Behavioral Requirements

1. Every Al-Anon member involved with Alateen service must:

• be an Al-Anon member regularly attending Al-Anon meetings.
• be at least 21 years old.
• have at least two years in Al-Anon in addition to any time spent in Alateen.
• not have been convicted of a felony, and not have been charged with child abuse or any other inappropriate sexual behavior, and not have demonstrated emotional problems which could result in harm to Alateen members.

​

Minimum Safety and Behavioral Requirements (cont’d)

2. There must be at two Alateen Group Sponsors at every Alateen meeting.

The Area Requirements:

3. must prohibit overt or covert sexual interaction between any adult and Alateen member.
4. must prohibit conduct contrary to applicable laws.
5. must contain procedures for parental permission and medical care when applicable.
6. must be reviewed by local counsel.

​

Area 52 Alateen Safety & Behavioral Requirements (in addition to WSO Requirements)�

• Be an Al-Anon member attending at least one Al-Anon meeting weekly and have a personal sponsor.
• Pass an initial background check and then pass additional background checks each year
• Participate in annual recertification process including training
• There must be at least two AMIAS at every Alateen meeting

​

​

​

Every Al-Anon member involved with Alateen service must:

Trusted Servants in the �Area Alateen Process

• Area 52 Alateen Coordinator/Area Alateen Process Person (AAPP)
• District Representative/Alateen District Chair

​

Al-Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS)�Area 52 Certification Process

• Contact the Area 52 Alateen Coordinator/TAAPP to secure an AMIAS Certification Packet (Carol Anne Mahoney)
• Complete all forms and submit to:

Carol Anne Mahoney

9219 Chickasaw Dr.

Brentwood, TN 37027

(615) 415-0612

area52.taapp.alateen@gmail.com

Al-Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS)�Area 52 Certification Process

​

​

​

​

• Submit Area Application including references to Area Alateen Coordinator
• Submit Background Check Application to Area Alateen Coordinator
• Complete Area AMIAS Training as directed by Area Alateen Coordinator

Once all of these steps have been successfully completed, the Area Alateen Coordinator will notify you of certification status

​

​

Starting an Alateen Group in Tennessee

​

• Follow the Area Process for certification of Alateen Group Sponsors and meeting registration.
• Work with Area/district/AIS Alateen Coordinator/TAAPP.
• Set meeting place/time.
• In order for an Alateen meeting to begin in any district, there must be a registered Al-Anon group which is willing to support the Alateen group. Exceptions to this would include meetings in schools or institutions.
• Alateen meetings are attended only by Alateen members, prospective members, and the Area-certified Alateen Group Sponsors affiliated with the group. Exceptions to this would include school or institutions where certain staff could be required to attend by the organization’s regulations. Also, the DR may attend as a resource, as needed.

​

​

The New Alateen Meeting

• The first meeting will be exciting for all concerned.
• Ask the group to set its own behavioral guidelines. Remind them they are responsible for their group.
• Remember it’s the Alateens’ meeting!

Alateen Group Sponsors

• Are necessary to have an Alateen meeting.
• Provide support and encouragement to the Alateen group as a whole.
• Encourage and help the teens to run their own meetings.
• Avoid one-on-one interactions.
• Are not personal sponsors to teens

​

We always…

Keep the

_____

on Al-Anon/Alateen

___________.

​

focus

principles

Alateen Personal Sponsors

• Alateens are encouraged to ask another Alateen member to be their personal Sponsor, with whom they can discuss personal problems and program questions.
• Just as in Al-Anon, Alateen personal Sponsorship is a peer-to-peer relationship (or teen - to-teen)

Alateen Resources

In the District

• Alateen Group Sponsor Training
• District/AIS Trusted servants
• District Representative
• District/AIS Alateen Chair/Committee
• Other Alateen Group Sponsors/AMIAS

Alateen Resources

In the Area

• Area Alateen Workshops
• Area Trusted Servants
• Alateen Coordinator/TAAPP (TN Area Alateen Process Person)

Carol Anne Mahoney

(615) 415-0612

area52.taapp.alateen@gmail.com

​

• Area Alateen Requirements
• Area Alateen Process

​

​

Alateen Resources

World Service Office

• Alateen Service e-Manual on the Members’ Web site, al-anon.org/members, including guidelines:
• Alateen Safety Guidelines (G-34)
• Starting an Alateen Group (G-19)
• Alateen Meetings in Schools (G-5)
• Alateen Conferences (G-16)
• Area Alateen Coordinators (G-24)

Responsibility Statement

“AMIAS are to provide direction to assure that emphasis is placed on the Al-Anon/ Alateen program of recovery and, to the best of their ability, maintain an atmosphere that will protect the Alateen members from physical and emotional harm.”

​

The Responsibility Statement can be found on the WSO Alateen Safety Guideline, G-34, available on the Members’ Web site, al-anon.org/members.

​

Safety Checklist�

​

​

​

Legal Issues - Al-Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service:

• Any person with reasonable cause to believe a child is being abused or neglected, must, under the law, immediately report to Tennessee Department of Children’s Services or to local law enforcement. The reporter can remain anonymous.
• Everyone in TN is a mandated reporter under state law
• State procedures and contact information may be found

on this link

https://www.tn.gov/dcs/program-areas/child-safety/reporting/faqs.html

​

​

Safety Checklist�

​

Legal Issues: Al-Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service (con):

• AMIAS who feel a moral responsibility or are compelled by law to report cases of suspected child abuse to the authorities should contact their Area Alateen Coordinator, District Representative, or other Area-designated trusted servant prior to reporting. It is important to reason things out through the Area Process.
• Prior to reporting to the authorities, the AMIAS should also discuss their intentions with the Alateen member to avoid placing the member in danger and to maintain confidence and trust in the Alateen Group Sponsor/AMIAS and the Alateen program.

Alateen Safety

Q: If reporting is mandatory, how do we prepare the Alateens?

If a mandated reporter is present, the Alateens must be made aware of this at every meeting, before sharing begins, so that they have a choice in the subjects they share. Some groups read a statement at the beginning of each meeting. If it becomes necessary to report something, do it as an interested and concerned adult, not as a representative of Al-Anon or Alateen.

Alateen Safety

Q: What should we do if we are considering reporting?

​

Whether reporting is mandatory or not: • Start by discussing the matter with the Area Alateen Coordinator, DR, or other trusted servants according to the Area’s process. • Before reporting, discuss your intentions with the Alateen member. • Follow advice of legal counsel regarding keeping identities anonymous. • Any reporting is done as an individual, not as an Alateen Group Sponsor or AMIAS.

Safety Checklist�

Al-Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service:

• Work their own Al-Anon program.
• Use their personal and service Sponsors.
• Participate in local/Area Al-Anon/Alateen events.
• Avoid one-on-one interactions with Alateens.
• Know when to step down as an Alateen Group Sponsor.
• Attend district and Area service meetings whenever possible.
• Participate in Alateen Sponsor Workshops.
• Stay informed—connect with the Area Alateen Coordinator.
• Use all their resources!

Talk to each other, reason things out with someone else…

Wrap Up

• Welcome to the world of Alateen service!!!
• Contact for questions:

Carol Anne Mahoney

(615) 415-0612

area52.taapp.alateen@gmail.com

(Tennessee Area Alateen Coordinator/TAAPP)

​

​