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. Alateen a day at a time (B-10) How Can the Anonymity of the Student Courage to Be Me - Living With Alcoholism (B-23) Information be Maintained when Parental Permission Living Today in Alateen (B-26) is Required? Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions for Alateen (P-18) for Educators 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 The Al-Anon Area Delegate will furnish the name word NO, sign and return this form.” A description 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) 563-1656 Al‑Anon member as a Sponsor. al-anon.org [email protected] 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.

15-9 S-64 Printed in U.S.A. Help and hope for families and 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- side organizations, and counseling are not discussed When Is the Best Time To Schedule an The disease of alcoholism in a family member or Alateen Meeting? friend affects children and teenagers in many dif- in the meetings. There is 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 Groups, is a fellowship of young people whose lives word “God” as a universal term for a Higher Power. issued a pass “to the Students are informed guidance office” for have been affected by alcoholism in a family member Al-Anon/Alateen does not require that an opening or that scheduled tests or closing prayer be said. the specified time of or friend. Alateen helps young people understand events mandated by how alcoholism affects the lives of all who are associ- the Alateen meet- 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 mon problems, share experience, and encourage one Yes, Alateen is a part of Al-Anon. Al-Anon mem- nymity of the stu- 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 are associated with a School personnel who are also Al-Anon members opportunity to get may serve as Sponsors. Experience has shown that nel take priority over attending an Alateen meeting. 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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