Purpose

The purpose of the Treatment Committee is to cooperate with Intergroup/District Treatment, Institution Committees, and the General Service Office in New York, when requested, to coordinate the work of individual A.A. members and groups who are interested in carrying our message of recovery to alcoholics in treatment facilities, and to set up means of “Bridging the Gap” from the facility to the larger A.A. community. Basic functions of the committee:

  • Be available to take regular A.A. meeting into facilities, when asked by the Intergroup/district committees and allowed to do so by the
  • Encourage A.A. group and Intergroup/district committee participation
  • Provide a liaison between treatment facilities’ meetings and A.A. groups on the outside
  • Coordinate temporary contacts with individuals and A.A. groups to ensure that individuals will be guided to a meeting at the time of their
  • Arrange purchase and distribution of literature for these A.A. groups and meetings
  • Meet with administrators of institutions and agencies dealing with alcoholism to share information about Alcoholics Anonymous

Duties and Responsibilities of Treatment Chairperson

  • Appointed by the Area Chairperson, serves for a term of two years beginning in January of the even-numbered years
  • Attends the Area Assembly and Area Committee meetings
  • Chairs Treatment Committee meetings, coordinating information received from Intergroup/district Treatment representatives for reporting back to the Area Assembly
  • Acts as a conduit for communication between the General Service Office and the Intergroup/district Treatment committees
  • Assists the Intergroup/district Treatment committees wherever and whenever possible
  • Coordinates A.A.’s Treatment display at professional exhibits throughout the Maryland General Service Area 29 as required
  • Prepares the annual Treatment Committee’s budget request to be submitted to the Finance Committee in the fall of each year and is prepared with supporting documentation to answer any questions which may be asked during the budget approval process
  • May attend service functions or events as listed on page 54 of this Handbook and request reimbursement as provided in the Area 29 Budget for this committee and approved by the Area Assembly each year
  • Attends one or more Conference Agenda Review Committee (“CARC”) meetings, the Area Mini Conference and is responsible to review Treatment Kit and Workbook to make any recommendations for changes to the Area and/or the General Service Conference Coordinator
  • Is encouraged to write and submit service-related articles for the quarterly Maryland General Service Newsletter, the MARGENSER
  • As requested, attends group, Intergroup, District or other Area A.A. events to share information and knowledge of the A.A. fellowship
  • Forms a working committee of A.A. members to assist in carrying out the performance of these responsibilities

Reprinted from Area 29 Area Handbook, 2019. P. 47.

Bridging the Gap

Area 29’s Treatment Committee is always looking for ways to improve communication with all A.A. members, groups, and districts to ensure that alcoholics leaving treatment facilities have help readily available for “Bridging the Gap” between the facility and continued recovery in A.A. This is Twelfth Step work at its most basic: an alcoholic talking to another.

Below are four simple forms to help you: facts on Bridging the Gap, a flyer on 12th step and Bridging the Gap, a sign-up form for Districts and Intergroups to use and a temporary Contact request form to be provided to institutions and filled out by a person seeking a temporary contact, or by a person recently discharged seeking a temporary contact. The forms are editable to adapt to your local needs.

The process is simple: the temporary contact form is emailed to the Treatment Committee Chair and forwarded to the proper geographical area and a temporary contact is matched to the alcoholic.

If you cannot scan the form, just send the information on the form to the Treatment Chairperson. The information is what is important – not the form.

The following forms will be helpful for Bridging the Gap efforts for your district or intergroup:

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to carry the message to an alcoholic who might otherwise have nowhere to turn; register today!

* If you cannot open any of these documents send an email to Treatment Chairperson for help in submitting your information.

** Some of these documents contain links that will open webpages and pamphlets outside the Area 29, Maryland General Service website. These links do not constitute or indicate review, endorsement or approval. We have provided these links as a service to our members.

For further information contact the Treatment Chairperson.