Al-Anon Family Groups OUTREACH TO PROFESSIONALS: EDUCATION All About Al-Anon FOR EDUCATORS

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OUTREACH TO PROFESSIONALS: EDUCATION

All About Al-Anon

FOR EDUCATORS

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2July 2014

We’re members of the Al-Anon Family Groups (AFG)

of Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Who we are

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3July 2014

To inform you, as Educators, about what Al-Anon/Alateen is, and how it can help YOU

help the students and families you serve

Why we’re here

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July 2014 4

What we’ll share

1. How Al-Anon is a RESOURCE for you

2. What Al-Anon IS and what it IS NOT

3. The role Al-Anon plays in recovery from the FAMILY DISEASE of alcoholism

4. How you can MAKE REFERRALS to Al-Anon

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5July 2014

a word about

Anonymity

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6July 2014

Prevalence of Binge Drinking Among Adults in the U.S.

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7July 2014

Wisconsin has the highest PREVALENCE OF BINGE DRINKING among all 50 states:10.9% (Utah) to 25.6% (Wisconsin)

Wisconsin has the highest INTENSITY OF BINGE DRINKING among all 50 states:6.0 drinks on occasion (DC) to 9.0 drinks on occasion (Wisconsin)

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8July 2014

In the U.S. there are more than 18 million people

with a drinking problem, and

only 10% of themwill ever get help

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9

Every individual with a drinking problem

disrupts the lives of at least 4 other people:

THE CHILD WHO LOSES A PARENT TO A DRUNKEN DRIVING ACCIDENT

CAREERS THAT ARE RUINED

MARRIAGES AND FAMILIES THAT ARE DESTROYED BY PROBLEM DRINKING

July 2014

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10

Of the estimated

72 million Americans affected by someone else’s drinking, most will not get help for themselves

Many will never realize they could have benefited from insight into problems caused by another person’s drinking

July 2014

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11July 2014

SOURCE: 2009 MEMBER SURVEY, AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS WORLD SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

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12July 2014

What effectcan someone’s excessive drinking have on others?

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13July 2014

What WAS LIFE LIKE

BEFORE ATTENDING

AL-ANON?

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14July 2014

Where

EDUCATORS WILL FIND STUDENTS AFFECTED BY

SOMEONE ELSE’S DRINKING

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15July 2014

Wherewill you find

students affected by

someone else’s drinking?

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16July 2014

Wherewill you find students affected by someone else’s drinking?

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17July 2014


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18


July 2014

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19July 2014


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20July 2014


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21July 2014


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22July 2014

Wherewill you find

students affected by

someone else’s drinking?

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23July 2014

• Classroom• Nurse’s office• Principal’s office• Absent students• And other community settings

Where else EDUCATORS WILL FIND STUDENTS AFFECTED BY

SOMEONE ELSE’S DRINKING

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24July 2014

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25July 2014


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26July 2014

SINGLE PURPOSE:

To help families and friends of problem drinkers,

whether the problem drinker is still drinking or not.

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27July 2014

WORLDWIDE FELLOWSHIP NETWORK of people who believe their lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking ... NOT group therapy and NOT led by a counselor or therapist.

MUTUAL SUPPORT recovery program where members share their experience, strength and hope to solve common problems

BASED ON THE TWELVE STEPS of Alcoholics Anonymous … but NOT affiliated with AA

SPIRITUAL PROGRAM that is compatible with all religious beliefs or noneat all … independent and NOT allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization or institution

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28July 2014

Weekly and online meetings No dues or fees

Anonymous Compatible with professional treatment

Free of charge Worldwide Spiritual Fellowship

of peers Independent No professional referral required

Not a treatment center, counseling agency or teaching program

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29July 2014

How CAN AL-ANON

FAMILY GROUPS

HELP?

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30July 2014

But … does Al-Anon

really work?

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31July 2014


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32July 2014


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33July 2014


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34July 2014


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35July 2014

2012 AL-ANON MEMBERSHIP SURVEY AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS HEADQUARTERS, INC.

Summary of More Key Findings

The majority of members who:

• Joined due to someone else’s drug use, LATER DISCOVER SOMEONE ELSE’S ALCOHOLISM IS ALSO A FACTOR.

• Received treatment, counseling, or therapy before or after Al-Anon NO LONGER DO.

• Were referred by a professional, ATTENDED AL-ANON BECAUSE OF THE PROFESSIONAL’S RECOMMENDATION.

• Members’ self-diagnoses of physical/mental health problems IMPROVED AFTER AL-ANON.

• 95% of members REPORT IMPROVED QUALITY OF SPIRITUAL LIFE AFTER AL-ANON.

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36July 2014

Al-Anon MEMBERS TELL

THE WAY IT IS

TODAY

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37July 2014

CALL TO ACTION FOR EDUCATORS

Call to ActionWHAT EDUCATORS CAN DO TO HELP STUDENTS

AFFECTED BY SOMEONE ELSE’S DRINKING

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38July 2014

1. EDUCATE YOURSELF.

Attend open meetings

Know how to find a meeting schedule

Learn more online at www.area61afg.org


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39July 2014


2. RECOGNIZE THE OPPORTUNITY.

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40July 2014

3. ASK THE QUESTION.


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41July 2014


4. SUGGEST AL-ANON

OR ALATEEN

if appropriate.

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42July 2014


5. FOLLOW UP WITH STUDENTS

as appropriate.

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43July 2014


6. INQUIRE ABOUT HOLDING

AN ALATEEN MEETING

at your school.

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44July 2014

Dear Teacher,

I think it’s time I told you why I have been acting out at

school and crying sometimes.

I think you know that something is wrong, because

you keep asking me, “What’s the matter?” The reason

I haven’t told you before is that I can’t talk to you in the

hallway with all the other kids staring at me—and until

now, I didn’t feel like I could talk to anybody about it.

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45July 2014

I’m worried about my schoolwork. I keep getting in

trouble for not doing my homework, and not listening in

class. Sometimes I am so scared that I just get mad at

everybody. I don’t mean to yell. I just feel like everyone

is picking on me at home and at school. You see,

my dad has a drinking problem. It’s called alcoholism.

It means that he can’t control his drinking. He comes

home some nights really drunk and yells at all of us.

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46July 2014

Then mom yells back at him for being drunk and

spending all the money. Sometimes he hits her, or my

sister and me for no reason, just because he is drunk.

Sometimes my sister and I are so scared that we hide

in our room.

I used to hate my mom and dad for all that—mom for

yelling at dad and making him even madder, and dad

for his drinking. I don’t hate them anymore because

I found out why they were like that.

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47July 2014

One day a lady came and talked to my mom, and

I listened, too.

She was the one who explained to us what alcoholism is.

I learned that my dad was not horrible, just sick. He has

a disease called alcoholism.

She told us that when there is someone in the house with

a drinking problem, the whole family gets hurt by it.

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48July 2014

She also told my mom about Al-Anon and Alateen. That

is where families and friends of problem drinkers go to

understand the disease of alcoholism and how they can

stop being so scared and mad all the time. Now mom

goes to Al-Anon. It works, too. Mom doesn’t scream at

dad or us as much anymore.

I go to Alateen, that’s for kids affected by someone else’s

drinking. Sometimes we have friends who drink too. Now

I understand, and it feels good not to be the only one

with my kind of problem.

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49July 2014

I think that teachers and principals and other school staff

should know about alcoholism, because then they would

understand kids like me. If you know of any kids who

might have a problem with a drinking parent or a

drinking friend, you could tell them where they can get

help. It really helped me. For more information please

go to www.area61afg.org for locations of Al-Anon and

Alateen meetings.

Signed,

Your Student

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50July 2014

For more information:

[email protected]

or visit

www.area61afg.org

TO ACCESS INFORMATION FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO MAY BENEFIT

FROM OUR ORGANIZATION

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51July 2014

All About Al-Anon

FOR EDUCATORS

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!

Documents

Al-Anon Family Groups OUTREACH TO PROFESSIONALS: EDUCATION All About Al-Anon FOR EDUCATORS