dalin
02-20-2009, 11:13 PM
Notes for 12th Step Volunteers
The 12th Step Volunteer is the person
who will talk at length to the potential
newcomer about NA, either on the
telephone or in person.
Experience has shown that the most successful
12th Step Volunteers possess certain
assets, which are beneficial in the accomplishment
of their responsibilities.
These qualities include:
♦ A suggested minimum of one year
clean time (however this changes
from place to place)
♦ Appropriate training (i.e. group orientation
sessions, personal orientation,
etc)
♦ A knowledge of the Twelve Steps and
Twelve Traditions of Narcotics
Anonymous (e.g. The only requirement,
our primary purpose..., never
endorse related facilities..., nonprofessional...,
no opinion on outside
issues..., attractions rather than promotions...,
anonymity..., etc);
♦ The willingness to serve;
♦ The willingness to give of personal
time.
After the 12th Step Volunteer receives
some general information from the
Helpline Volunteer, the 12th Step Volunteer
calls the addict as soon as possible.
The 12th Step Volunteer spends time talking
to the caller about recovery in Narcotics
Anonymous. It may be beneficial to
share one's own personal experience,
strength and hope.
The volunteer will then offer information
about meetings, their location and time.
If the caller is willing, the Volunteer offers
to meet him/her or arranges to have another
12th Step Volunteer meet him/her
at a meeting.
Considerations
Going personally to meet the caller may
have the potential for significant safety
problems.
The following points should be considered
before making a 12th Step call in
person:
♦ Has the caller used today?
♦ Does it sound safe to meet the caller?
Whenever possible, encourage the
caller to meet you at an NA meeting.
♦ Before meeting with the caller, let
them know you have to find another
volunteer to accompany you. Never
go alone. Never go alone!
♦ Make sure at least one 12th Step Volunteer
is the same gender as the
caller.
♦ Try to meet in a neutral, public location
(e.g. coffee shop). Meeting a
newcomer in your home or in their
home is an unnecessary risk. Inform
the caller as to the specific time you
will arrive, and meet them out front.
♦ If meeting or picking up the addict at
their home is unavoidable, consider
the circumstances and take precautions,
remembering personal safety.
♦ Ensure that all arrangements for
meeting the caller are accurate and
understood by both parties.
♦ Upon arranging to meet the caller, it
is suggested that the Volunteer bring
a current meeting list,
some NA pamphlets, and a White
Booklet.
♦ Tell someone where you are going,
and call them when you get there.
♦ Don't stop anywhere on the way to
the meeting, especially at the suggestion
of the newcomer.
♦ The NA program has one ‘must' that
applies to everyone: no drugs or paraphernalia
in our possession.
It is important that the 12th Step Volunteer
tries to ensure that the newcomer
follows this requirement.
This is for the protection of the 12th Step
Volunteer, the fellowship, and its groups.
Once the addict has been taken to a meeting,
the 12th Step Volunteer may help the
addict obtain telephone numbers and
transportation to other meetings.
If the addict begins recovery in a hospital
or a treatment centre, 12th Step Volunteers
can call regularly to let the addict
know that members of NA care. When
the 12th Step Volunteer visits, it is a good
idea to bring along some NA Literature to
leave for the addict, such as An Introductory
Guide to Narcotics Anonymous.
Do’s and Don’ts for 12th Step work:
Do...
♦ Keep a supply of the necessary materials
at home/with you (eg White
booklets, Where To Finds, NA pamphlets)
♦ Always identify yourself with your
first name only and state that you are
an ‘addict'
♦ Find out what the caller needs by asking
questions and listening to the answers.
♦ When returning a call, be certain that
the person requesting help is on the
line before identifying yourself as an
addict or mentioning Narcotics
Anonymous;
♦ Direct and refer calls promptly when
necessary;
♦ Keep a log of all the calls you answer,
directly or refer on to others.
♦ Always follow up on all calls you direct
or refer to another part of the
(Continued on page 5)
12th Step Guidelines
Volume 22 Page 5
Committee.
♦ Communicate all your activities to the
UK Helpline, and your regional 12th
Step Coordinators or Committee
Chairperson;
♦ Remember to use the 12th Step List;
♦ Know and apply the Traditions in all
your interactions with callers;
♦ Always give accurate information
about our Fellowship;
♦ Respond to all calls promptly;
♦ Execute good sense and judgment in
all your interactions with callers
♦ Remember, we are not counselors or
therapists
♦ Remember to encourage others to
become volunteers;
♦ Maintain the sign up sheets, posters,
and other forms of flyers that propagate
our efforts;
♦ Perform orientations regularly and
keep the Fellowship informed of such
events;
♦ Always get permission to distribute,
hang or post flyers from the group(s)
where the distribution is taking place;
♦ Practice creativity in all aspects of
providing and supporting a Helpline
or 12th Step service;
♦ Keep the lines of communication
open at all times within the 12th Step
and Helpline Committee
♦ When performing 12th Step calls, let
someone outside the execution of the
call know what, where and when is
happening;
♦ Exercise safety in performing 12th
Step work.
Do Not...
♦ In no way argue with the caller...
.(especially if you are going to meet
them);
♦ Don't try to respond to questions
that you may not be qualified to answer.
Use the Emergency Referral
List if necessary;
♦ At no time should you ever give out
the name, address, or phone number
of any NA member;
♦ Never give out information about
who was at a NA meeting (eg to police
officers, probation officers, or
significant others). However, general
information may be given about NA's
make-up (variance of size of meeting,
NA open
to all age groups, etc).
♦ Don't glorify your active addiction or
your recovery; this is not about you,
its about we;
♦ NEVER MEET ANYONE
ALONE!!!!!
♦ Although our tolerance may be tested,
try to avoid being rude, short, disrespectful,
or use foul language or profanity;
♦ Don't try to guess the answer to questions.
There is no shame in not knowing,
and you can tell the caller you
don't know;
♦ Avoid committing to providing literature,
presentations, or any other services.
This needs to be consulted with
the Committee or the appropriate
Committee Member.
♦ Some of our fellow Recovering Addicts
do not wish to serve in Helpline
or 12th Step service.
♦ We are all quick to judge at the best
of times, but remember these people
may provide essential service in other
areas.
♦ Avoid performing a 12th Step call
without at least one member of the
same gender as the 12th Step recipient.
We understand that this is not
always possible but safest - try to implement
programs that ensure you are
covered;
♦ Avoid saying you will do something
and then not do it. If we can't do
something, pass on the responsibility
to someone who can - people are
relying on us;
♦ Avoid stopping anywhere at the request
of the 12th Step recipients;
♦ At no time allow someone with drugs
or paraphernalia into your car. You
are entitled to keep yourself safe before
anyone else.
The 12th Step Volunteer is the person
who will talk at length to the potential
newcomer about NA, either on the
telephone or in person.
Experience has shown that the most successful
12th Step Volunteers possess certain
assets, which are beneficial in the accomplishment
of their responsibilities.
These qualities include:
♦ A suggested minimum of one year
clean time (however this changes
from place to place)
♦ Appropriate training (i.e. group orientation
sessions, personal orientation,
etc)
♦ A knowledge of the Twelve Steps and
Twelve Traditions of Narcotics
Anonymous (e.g. The only requirement,
our primary purpose..., never
endorse related facilities..., nonprofessional...,
no opinion on outside
issues..., attractions rather than promotions...,
anonymity..., etc);
♦ The willingness to serve;
♦ The willingness to give of personal
time.
After the 12th Step Volunteer receives
some general information from the
Helpline Volunteer, the 12th Step Volunteer
calls the addict as soon as possible.
The 12th Step Volunteer spends time talking
to the caller about recovery in Narcotics
Anonymous. It may be beneficial to
share one's own personal experience,
strength and hope.
The volunteer will then offer information
about meetings, their location and time.
If the caller is willing, the Volunteer offers
to meet him/her or arranges to have another
12th Step Volunteer meet him/her
at a meeting.
Considerations
Going personally to meet the caller may
have the potential for significant safety
problems.
The following points should be considered
before making a 12th Step call in
person:
♦ Has the caller used today?
♦ Does it sound safe to meet the caller?
Whenever possible, encourage the
caller to meet you at an NA meeting.
♦ Before meeting with the caller, let
them know you have to find another
volunteer to accompany you. Never
go alone. Never go alone!
♦ Make sure at least one 12th Step Volunteer
is the same gender as the
caller.
♦ Try to meet in a neutral, public location
(e.g. coffee shop). Meeting a
newcomer in your home or in their
home is an unnecessary risk. Inform
the caller as to the specific time you
will arrive, and meet them out front.
♦ If meeting or picking up the addict at
their home is unavoidable, consider
the circumstances and take precautions,
remembering personal safety.
♦ Ensure that all arrangements for
meeting the caller are accurate and
understood by both parties.
♦ Upon arranging to meet the caller, it
is suggested that the Volunteer bring
a current meeting list,
some NA pamphlets, and a White
Booklet.
♦ Tell someone where you are going,
and call them when you get there.
♦ Don't stop anywhere on the way to
the meeting, especially at the suggestion
of the newcomer.
♦ The NA program has one ‘must' that
applies to everyone: no drugs or paraphernalia
in our possession.
It is important that the 12th Step Volunteer
tries to ensure that the newcomer
follows this requirement.
This is for the protection of the 12th Step
Volunteer, the fellowship, and its groups.
Once the addict has been taken to a meeting,
the 12th Step Volunteer may help the
addict obtain telephone numbers and
transportation to other meetings.
If the addict begins recovery in a hospital
or a treatment centre, 12th Step Volunteers
can call regularly to let the addict
know that members of NA care. When
the 12th Step Volunteer visits, it is a good
idea to bring along some NA Literature to
leave for the addict, such as An Introductory
Guide to Narcotics Anonymous.
Do’s and Don’ts for 12th Step work:
Do...
♦ Keep a supply of the necessary materials
at home/with you (eg White
booklets, Where To Finds, NA pamphlets)
♦ Always identify yourself with your
first name only and state that you are
an ‘addict'
♦ Find out what the caller needs by asking
questions and listening to the answers.
♦ When returning a call, be certain that
the person requesting help is on the
line before identifying yourself as an
addict or mentioning Narcotics
Anonymous;
♦ Direct and refer calls promptly when
necessary;
♦ Keep a log of all the calls you answer,
directly or refer on to others.
♦ Always follow up on all calls you direct
or refer to another part of the
(Continued on page 5)
12th Step Guidelines
Volume 22 Page 5
Committee.
♦ Communicate all your activities to the
UK Helpline, and your regional 12th
Step Coordinators or Committee
Chairperson;
♦ Remember to use the 12th Step List;
♦ Know and apply the Traditions in all
your interactions with callers;
♦ Always give accurate information
about our Fellowship;
♦ Respond to all calls promptly;
♦ Execute good sense and judgment in
all your interactions with callers
♦ Remember, we are not counselors or
therapists
♦ Remember to encourage others to
become volunteers;
♦ Maintain the sign up sheets, posters,
and other forms of flyers that propagate
our efforts;
♦ Perform orientations regularly and
keep the Fellowship informed of such
events;
♦ Always get permission to distribute,
hang or post flyers from the group(s)
where the distribution is taking place;
♦ Practice creativity in all aspects of
providing and supporting a Helpline
or 12th Step service;
♦ Keep the lines of communication
open at all times within the 12th Step
and Helpline Committee
♦ When performing 12th Step calls, let
someone outside the execution of the
call know what, where and when is
happening;
♦ Exercise safety in performing 12th
Step work.
Do Not...
♦ In no way argue with the caller...
.(especially if you are going to meet
them);
♦ Don't try to respond to questions
that you may not be qualified to answer.
Use the Emergency Referral
List if necessary;
♦ At no time should you ever give out
the name, address, or phone number
of any NA member;
♦ Never give out information about
who was at a NA meeting (eg to police
officers, probation officers, or
significant others). However, general
information may be given about NA's
make-up (variance of size of meeting,
NA open
to all age groups, etc).
♦ Don't glorify your active addiction or
your recovery; this is not about you,
its about we;
♦ NEVER MEET ANYONE
ALONE!!!!!
♦ Although our tolerance may be tested,
try to avoid being rude, short, disrespectful,
or use foul language or profanity;
♦ Don't try to guess the answer to questions.
There is no shame in not knowing,
and you can tell the caller you
don't know;
♦ Avoid committing to providing literature,
presentations, or any other services.
This needs to be consulted with
the Committee or the appropriate
Committee Member.
♦ Some of our fellow Recovering Addicts
do not wish to serve in Helpline
or 12th Step service.
♦ We are all quick to judge at the best
of times, but remember these people
may provide essential service in other
areas.
♦ Avoid performing a 12th Step call
without at least one member of the
same gender as the 12th Step recipient.
We understand that this is not
always possible but safest - try to implement
programs that ensure you are
covered;
♦ Avoid saying you will do something
and then not do it. If we can't do
something, pass on the responsibility
to someone who can - people are
relying on us;
♦ Avoid stopping anywhere at the request
of the 12th Step recipients;
♦ At no time allow someone with drugs
or paraphernalia into your car. You
are entitled to keep yourself safe before
anyone else.