12 Step

12-Step/Mutual Support Group Meeting Directions and Requirements Read Chapter 10 in advance of attending the meeting. 1. Students should choose the type of meeting they wish to attend: Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Reformers Unanimous etc. Look in Chapter 10 for a list of others. Often these meetings are held at churches, shelters, and helping agencies. They are offered at various times of the day and multiple times each week. Rocky Mount has some really great AA and NA groups but you may attend anywhere you choose. 2. Go online for a meeting schedule for your area.Google the meeting type and then your county/town for a full listing. 3. Choose an OPEN (O) or Open Speaker (OS or Sp) meeting to attend. Do NOT attend a CLOSED meeting as they are for members only. 4. Do NOT take notes or attempt in any way to record the meeting; you are there to observe. Taking notes has the potential to violate the anonymous nature of these group fellowships. Recording the meeting is a violation of privacy and law! 5. Be respectful by identifying yourself by first name only and as a visitor or by saying you are there to learn about the program if asked. . You are there to OBSERVE, so do not attempt to interview members of the fellowship. Attend the meeting and experience what the members offer through sharing. Stay for the entire meeting. 7. ————————————————- After the meeting, privately jot down some immediate thoughts and reactions to what you observed and learned. Use first names ONLY if you recount a members story. ————————————————- ————————————————- These meetings usually have light refreshments (coffee, cookies , etc. . Also, many of the fellowships are self-supporting, so a basket may be passed around at the end of the meeting to collect $1 from members. You may contribute $1 if you choose to, but you are not expected to do so since you are not a member. Simply pass the basket to the next person. Out of respect for the meeting process, please avoid getting up or moving around during the meeting (as in going to the bathroom, etc). Although I think the experience is more meaningful when students attend alone, you may elect to go with one nother person. Please do not attend in small groups which will only draw attention to yourselves and create a spectacle. At all times be mindful that you are entering a safe and sacred space for those who suffer from addiction. Meetings often begin and end with a prayer. If you are not comfortable joining in the group prayer, feel free to simply remain silent. In preparing the paper for submission you will need to address the following: 1. What were your th oughts, feelings, preconceived notions prior to attending the meeting. 2.Describe the demographics of the fellowship: race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), gender, age, etc. 3. Describe the atmosphere of the fellowship, the meeting dynamics, and the group norms. How did the meeting progress? 4. Detail what you learned about those with chemical dependency, addiction, yourself, and your community through this event. What surprised you or impressed you? 5. How will your work as a social work practitioner or human service worker be impacted by what you have learned about 12-Step / Mutual Support Groups?Required: TNR 12 font, in-text references from the textbook with a reference page, and 4-6 pages of reflection and analysis tying back the experience of the meeting with the learning from the textbook and course. Upload the file in the DF in Moodle or email the Word document as an attachment through the student email account before the deadline. Late Policy applies to this assignme nt, so please submit it before the due date and time to insure the most points possible! Consult Moodle and the Course Outline for the deadline.