December 10, 2003

Dear Conference Members,

For the past several years, the issue of safety for Alateens and Al-Anon members involved in Alateen service has been very much in the forefront of discussions. The Alateen Advisory Committee and Group Services Committee have had lengthy discussions on the subject. At the 2002 WSC, it surfaced as one of the most important issues facing Al-Anon. At the 2003 WSC, the entire session of “Talking to the Delegates” was devoted to Alateen. The Policy Committee has been constantly examining current policies and guidelines as they relate to Alateen, and the Board of Trustees has discussed this issue in depth at its quarterly meetings.

It became apparent that it was time to do more. The time has come for all areas to have safety and behavioral requirements that meet minimum requirements for Alateens and

Al-Anon members involved in Alateen service. WSO registration procedures and policies will support the requirements developed by each area.

On December 8, 2003, the Board of Trustees met by conference call and passed the attached motion. The motion explains the Board’s thinking; what the Board now expects from the areas; and what the areas can expect from the WSO. While this is quite a step forward for Al-Anon, I am sure you will all agree that it is a necessary one. Our common goal is what is best for our Alateens and Al-Anon members involved in Alateen service. The Board’s motion speaks to that goal.

Please feel free to distribute my letter together with the Board’s motion and minimum requirements, as you deem necessary.

Also attached is a memo from the Executive Director dealing with the impact of this motion on existing literature.

In fellowship,

Cecelia L.

Cecelia L.

Chairperson of the Board of Trustees

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

Attachments:Alateen Motion

Alateen Safety and Behavioral Guidelines

Alateen Literature Moratorium Memo

MOTION

The Alateen Advisory Committee, the Group Services Committee, the World Service Office Policy Committee, and the Board of Trustees of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. have studied the issues concerning the safety and behavior of Alateen members and individuals involved with Alateen service. The Board has reviewed the documents and actions of previous Conferences, previous Committees, and the World Service Office correspondence with legal counsel, individual members, Alateen Sponsors, Coordinators, as well as area and district officers.

The Board of Trustees has determined:

  • Not all areas have written safety or behavioral requirements for Alateens and individuals involved with Alateen service.
  • The WSO registration procedures and policies should support areas that have developed safety and behavioral requirements.
  • The Al-Anon fellowship should take all necessary steps to provide a safe environment for Alateens and the Al-Anons involved with Alateen service.

As Tradition Four states, “Each group should be autonomous, except in matters affecting another group or Al-Anon or AA as a whole.” The Board of Trustees has determined that issues of safety and behavior by Alateens and individuals involved with Alateen service do affect every group and Al-Anon as a whole.

The Board of Trustees, under Concept Seven and Warranty Four, is entrusted with the authority and responsibility to protect the

Al-Anon and Alateen names and the organizational identity.

Now, therefore, the Board of Trustees resolves:

1. As soon as possible, but in any event, no later than

December 31, 2004, if an area within the World Service Conference Structure uses the Al-Anon or Alateen name in conjunction with any meeting(s), group(s), convention(s), or any other gathering(s) in the area where Alateen participation is offered, the area must have safety and behavioral requirements for all Alateen members and Al-Anon members involved in Alateen service. These safety and behavioral requirements must meet the minimum requirements of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

2. Al-Anon members involved in Alateen service and all Alateen members must adhere to the area’s safety and behavioral requirements, or the area will notify the WSO that those members are prohibited from participating in Alateen service.

3. As soon as possible, but in any event, no later than

December 31, 2004, and for each succeeding year, each area must have a process to certify, and must so certify to the WSO annually, that each Al-Anon member involved with Alateen service has met the area’s safety and behavioral requirements and has agreed to abide by them.

4. The World Service Office will register only those Alateen groups whose registration it receives through the area’s registration process. The WSO will remove from its registration list any Alateen group that the area determines does not comply with area safety and behavioral requirements. The area’s request for removal of an Alateen group must be stated in writing to the Associate Director/Alateen. This applies to all Alateen groups, whether currently registered or not.

5. If the area states in writing to the Associate Director/Alateen that a group, meeting, convention, or gathering is failing to meet the area’s safety and behavioral requirements, prior registration or interaction with the World Service Office shall not constitute any continuing right to use the Al-Anon or Alateen name.

Minimum Safety and Behavioral Requirements

  1. Every Al-Anon member involved with Alateen service must:
  2. be an Al-Anon member regularly attending Al-Anon meetings.
  3. be at least 21 years old.
  4. have at least two years in Al-Anon in addition to any time spent in Alateen.
  5. 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.
  6. There must be at least one Alateen sponsor at every Alateen meeting.
  7. The area requirements must prohibit overt or covert sexual interaction between any adult and Alateen member.
  8. The area requirements must prohibit conduct contrary to applicable laws.
  9. The area requirements must contain procedures for parental permission and medical care when applicable.
  10. The area requirements must be reviewed by local counsel.

Other points for the areas to think about in developing their requirements:

  • Requiring two Alateen sponsors at every Alateen meeting.
  • Having background checks.
  • Considering behavior before, during, and after any Alateen meeting or activity of Alateens and adults involved with Alateen service.
  • Connecting Alateen conferences to the area structure.
  • Forming an Alateen meeting that meets at the same time and

place as the Al-Anon meeting.

  • Being gender conscious.
  • Avoiding one-on-one interactions.
  • Having an appropriate ratio of adults to Alateens at all times.
  • Transporting Alateens to and from events.
  • Educational training and awareness programs.

TO:Conference Members, WSO staff, Alateen Coordinators, Literature Coordinators, AIS’s, AIS/LDC’s, and LDC’s

FROM:Ric Buchanan, Executive Director

DATE:December 10, 2003

RE:Moratorium on sale/distribution of specific Alateen books, pamphlets, booklets, and other service material.

On December 8, 2003, the Board of Trustees passed a motion requiring areas to create area safety and behavioral requirements that meet minimum requirements set by the Board. A copy of this motion was mailed to all Conference members. I have placed certain materials listed below on a 30-day hold. During the hold, the World Service Office will not sell, ship, or distribute any of the identified materials. Concurrently, the World Service Office will check the identified pieces to be sure that they do not contain information that would contradict the Board’s policy. As soon as each piece can be cleared, we will restore it into the order/entry system and the on-line shopping cart, and notify you. By the end of the holding period, those pieces that are identified as requiring revision will be kept on hold and will be revised on a priority schedule.

During this period and in the spirit of cooperation and unity, I am asking all members and distribution arms of the fellowship not to sell, give, or distribute any of the following pieces in English, French, and Spanish:

B-3 Alateen–Hope for Children

B-23 Courage to Be Me—Living with Alcoholism

B-26 Living Today in Alateen

P-21 Youth and the Alcoholic Parent

P-24/27 Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual

P-29 A Guide for Sponsors of Alateen Groups

P-41 Facts about Alateen

P-71 Alateen Talks Back On: Sponsoring an Alateen Group

P-86 A Guide to Alateen Sponsorship—An Unforgettable

Adventure

K-6 Alateen Discount Package

K-7 Alateen Discount Package with B-3

K-16 Alateen Service Kit

K-18 Alateen Newcomer Kit

M-60 Alateen Group Binder

S-27 Alateen Sponsorship—Is It for You?

S-60 Fact Sheet for Al-Anon On-line Meetings

S-64 Information for Educators: Alateen Meetings in Schools

Guidelines

G-3 Cooperation between Al-Anon and AA

G-5 Alateen Meetings in Schools

G-7 Participating in an Area AA Convention

G-12 How to Start an Al-Anon Group

G-16 Alateen Conferences

G-20 Area Conventions

G-24 Area Alateen Coordinators

G-34 Alateen Safety Guidelines

G-35 Adults Involved in Alateen Service

GR-1 Registration/Information Form

Every attempt will be made to clear materials as soon as practical. Other materials are also being reviewed to be sure that all potential areas of conflict can be identified. Thank you for your support as we all move forward to strengthen and sustain our Al-Anon/Alateen fellowship.