The temporary contact program is design to help alcoholics make the transition from treatment to Alcoholics Anonymous. One of the most slippery areas in the journey to lifelong sobriety is between the treatment facility and the nearest AA group or meeting. Many of us can tell you that even though we were aware of AA while we were in treatment, we were too fearful to attend a meeting alone.

As a patient, you decide for yourself whether or not you wish to have a temporary contact person upon leaving treatment. AA members who live in your area have volunteered to take you to your first AA meeting after you are discharged from treatment. These AA contacts know the fear of going to their first meeting alone and they want to help you. If you want to be contacted, your home zip code will be used to match you with an AA member of the same sex. We accept requests for anyone coming out of any type of facility who has a problem with alcohol. A temporary contact is a member of Alcoholics Anonymous who works with alcoholics both in and coming out of treatment facilities and programs. The primary purpose is to help you bridge the gap to Alcoholics Anonymous. It is a short-term arrangement (30-90 days) until you, as a new member, become established in a group and find more permanent sponsorship

 Visit the alcoholic before leaving the facility  May provide you with AA literature and a local meeting list  May visit with you for one-on-one sharing  Take you to a variety of meetings before and after you leave (especially the first day back in the community)  May meet you at meetings, introduce you to as many AA’s as possible Help you into the after-meeting coffee groups  Insure you have the phone numbers of several AA’s  Talk with you about sponsorship and guide you to selecting a more permanent sponsor and home group.

The AA Program, set forth in our Twelve Steps, offers the alcoholic a way to develop a satisfying life without alcohol. The program is discussed at AA group meetings.

 Open Meetings: are available to anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous’ program of recovery from alcoholism. Non-alcoholics may attend open meetings as observers. Attendance at an open AA meeting is the best way to learn what AA is, what it does, and what it does not do.  Closed Meetings: are for AA members only, for those who have a drinking problem, or for those “have a desire to stop drinking.”  Discussion Meetings: Group members share their experience, strength and hope on any drinking-related subject or problem brought up.  Speaker Meetings: One AA member tells his or her “story.” The speaker describes their experience with alcohol, how they came to AA and how their lives have been changed as a result of AA.  Step Meetings: are discussion meetings on one of the Twelve Steps using our basic text, Alcoholics Anonymous, or the book The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.  AA Literature Study Meetings: are discussion meetings on a selected publication from Alcoholics Anonymous.

 Furnish initial motivation for alcoholics to recover  Solicit Members  Engage in, or sponsor, research  Keep attendance records or case histories  Join “councils” of social agencies  Follow up or try to control its members

 Make medical or psychological diagnosis or prognosis  Provide drying out or nursing services, hospitalization, drugs or any medical or psychiatric treatment  Offer religious services  Provide housing, food, clothing, jobs, money or any other welfare or social services  Provide domestic or vocational counseling  Accept money for its services, or any contributions from non- AA sources

Be prepared to leave a message with the following information, so we can be of better service to you:  Name  Home Zip Code  A Number Where We Can Contact You  Questions about Bridging The Gap Area 23 Bridging The Gap Hotline