WYOMING
WESTERN AREA H&I SUBCOMMITTEE
INFORMATION PACKET
This information is for NA members who are involved in or who are
interested in being involved in Hospital & Institutions
service work in the Wyoming Western Area of NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
This
packet has been put together for NA members to have reference when doing
H&I work in the Wyoming Western Area.
The Do’s and Don’ts of H&I come directly form our H&I handbook. H&I
handbooks can be purchased from the Area Literature.
Commitment to H&I comes from H&I literature. The clearance form
information stays with the H&I committee.
Please read the following information
carefully before filling out the clearance form.
Are you sure you want to commit to doing H&I service work? It is very
important that we follow our guidelines carefully.
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS name and reputation can be seriously damaged and addicts
may not be able to hear our message.
If you have any questions contact the H&I committee.
In state or county
correctional facilities, along with local treatment centers located
In the
a. Practicing the 12 Steps and 12
traditions of NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS.
b. Have an understanding of the
purpose of H&I and its guidelines.
c. Understanding and willingness to
follow the H&I guidelines and facilities policies.
d. Willing to carry a clear and
consistent message of recovery in NA
e. Understanding and willingness to
follow the Do’s and Don’ts of H&I.
f. Will inform the H&I committee
if a member has a relative or friend in the facility.
a. Clearance for these units is done
through the W.W.A.S.C. H&I committee.
b. Men only for this facility.
Active in the local NA fellowship.
c. 2 years of total abstinence. 2
years out of the facility. 2 years off parole or probation
Felony record
doesn’t disqualify a person it’s case by case basis.
d. Proper clearance by the facility.
Background check etc.
e. Notify WWASC H&I committee
if member has any relatives or friends in the
facility.
a. Clearance for these facilities
will be done through the W.W.A.S.C. H&I committee
b. Six months total abstinence to
attend. 9 months to share at meeting.
c. Six months out of a correctional
facility, active in the local NA fellowship.
d. Proper
clearance through the facility. Notify the H&I committee if on probation or
or parole.
e. Notify W.W.A.S.C H&I if the
member has any relatives or friends in the facility.
a.
Clearance for these H&I meetings will be through the W.W.A.S.C
H&I committee.
b.
6 months total abstinence. Active in the local NA fellowship.
www.wyomingna.org
Attn: H&I
W.W.A.S.C H&I
P.O.
Often
time an H&I presentation/meeting provides the first exposure to recovery in
NA for many addicts. Our H&I panels may also be the only contact that these
addicts receive with our program on a weekly or monthly basis. It is important
that we realize that the suffering addict in the facilities we serve may depend
on us for the only message of recovery they get. For this reason we ask that
you not volunteer for an H&I meeting if you are not sure you will be able
to attend. If you do volunteer make sure you fulfill your commitment. None of
us has the right to cancel an H&I meeting. By making the choice to attend a
panel we must realize that we may have to forgo activities that we might
prefer. Living by spiritual principles does not always feel good.
NA
message of recovery to addicts who do not have full access to regular Narcotics
Anonymous meetings”. When we drop the ball and do not fulfill our commitment we
send a complete opposite message to both the addict and the facility. This
message conveyed is that NA does not care!!!! By not attending we do our
personal programs great harm by living in the self-centered nature of our
disease. It may take years to over come this choice.
remain consistent with our Twelve Traditions
and insure the message we carry is a clear consistent
message of recovery in NA, we refer to
ourselves simply as Addicts, not drug addicts, not addicts and
alcoholics, not dually addicted, not junkies,
or dope fiends. We refer to our time in NA as clean, clean
time or recovery. Not sobriety or clean and
sober. Just clean, clean time, or recovery. A mixed
message is a confusing message. We must be
careful and try not to use profanity when sharing.
If this something that you feel that you can
not do, then maybe you are not suited for H&I service
work in NA.
Reasons it exists is to keep an open line of
communication between NA as a whole and the facilities
we serve. More importantly at the
sub-committee, we can share our experience, strength and hope,
and help each other get through problems we
may encounter in carrying the message. This allow us
to grow and prosper. Without this commitment,
without our members from the panel member on up
attending the sub-committee meetings,
the message of NA is lost and the
sub-committee loses its
effectiveness. All of the steps of NA include
We for a big reason. So support your Area H&I Sub-
committee
DO’S AND DON’TS FOR H & I WORK
IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
DO FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE FOUND IN
H&I HANDBOOK.
Do Attempt to get all agreements in writing.
Do Clarify the rules with whomever you bring
into the facility.
Do Adhere to the security regulations at all
times.
Do Arrive early to satisfy security
requirements.
Do Keep staff informed of your whereabouts.
Do Obey the dress code, exercise common sense.
Do screen all panel members, speakers, and
chairperson (s).
Do Always clear a member who is on
parole/probation with the facility and parole/probation officer.
Do Adhere to clean time requirements of the
correctional facility and of the H&I committee.
Do Ensure that a clear NA message of recovery
is carried by all panel members.
Do Choose panel members and speakers
according to H&I guidelines.
Do Provide NA literature for correctional facilities meetings.
Do Make directories of outside meetings
available to the inmates.
Do Use NA literature recommended for H&I
work and stamp all literature with the local phone number.
Do Provide facilities with literature order
forms and encourage them to supply their own literature.
Do Start and end on time
Do Explain briefly in the meeting format what H&I is.
Do State that Narcotics Anonymous is separate
from the correctional facility and from other fellowships
Do Emphasize that NA recovery is available to all addicts regardless of
drug (s) used.
Do Explain the language we use (addict,
clean, recovery, clean time) and why we us it (Step 1 & 6th
Tradition)
Do Involve inmates with the meeting, especially in long term facilities (readings etc.)
Do Emphasize the importance of attending a
Narcotics Anonymous meeting the first day out of the facility
Don’t Allow a member who has outstanding
warrants to participate in a correctional facility meeting.
Don’t Bring any contraband items or weapons into the facility.
Don’t Take messages or carry letters in or out of the correctional
facility.
Don’t Show favoritism to any inmate.
Don’t Bring an NA member who has friends and or family in the
correctional facility.
Don’t Wear flashy jewelry and don’t carry excessive cash.
Don’t Use excessive profanity.
Don’t Attend H&I facility meetings alone.
Fellowships with the inmates and staff.
Don’t Discuss conditions within the correctional facility.
Don’t Discuss correctional facility staff members with inmate (s).
Don’t Discuss inmate’s with correctional facility staff members.
Don’t Sponsor inmates (s) in the correctional facility that you are
attending as a H&I member.
Don’t Accept money or gifts from or give money or gifts to any inmate.
Don’t Give anyone within the correctional facility your address or
telephone number.
Don’t Provide anyone with another NA member’s address or phone number.
Don’t Bring anyone who is not supposed to be there (newcomers, friends,
guests)
Don’t Ask what type of crime an inmate has been convicted of or discuss
guilt or innocence.
Don’t Break another person’s anonymity.
Don’t Emphasize “using days” while sharing an NA message of recovery.
Do Attempt to get the
treatment facility agreements in writing.
Do Clarify the rules with
whomever you bring into the facility.
Do Adhere to the security
regulations at all times.
Do Arrive early to set up
the meeting.
Do Keep the staff informed
of your whereabouts.
Do Obey the dress code,
exercise common sense,
Do Screen all panel members, speakers, and
chairpersons.
Do Adhere to the clean time
requirements of the treatment facility and the H&I committee.
Do Ensure that a clear NA
message of recovery is carried by all panel members.
Do Make directories of
outside meetings available to the residents.
Do Use the literature
recommended for H&I work.
Do Stamp all literature with
the local phone number.
Do
Provide facilities with literature order forms and encourage facilities to
supply its own NA literature.
Do Start and end on time.
Do Explain briefly, during
the meeting what H&I is.
Do
Clearly state that Narcotics Anonymous is separate from the treatment facility
and other fellowships.
Do Emphasize that NA recovery is available to all
addicts, regardless of drug(s) used.
Do Explain the language that we use( Addict, clean,
recovery, clean time) and why we us it (Step 1 & 6th tradition
of NA)
RESIDENTS MEETING PARTICIPATION
Do Involve residents with the meeting, especially in
long term treatment facilities (readings, etc)
Do Emphasize the importance of getting to an NA
meeting the first day out of the treatment facility.
Do Emphasize the importance of a NA sponsor, regular NA meeting attendance, and group
commitment.
PANEL LEADERS AND MEMBERS.
Don’t Bring any contraband items or weapons into the
treatment facility.
Don’t Take messages and carry letters in and out of
the facility.
Don’t Show
favoritism to any resident(s).
Don’t Bring an NA member who has friends and or
family in the treatment facility.
Don’t Wear flashy jewelry and don’t carry excessive
cash.
Don’t Use excessive profanity.
Don’t Attend H&I facilities alone.
FACILITY GUIDELINES.
Don’t Debate any issue involving the treatment
facility’s rules, regulations, program or other fellowships with the residents
or staff.
Don’t Discuss conditions within the treatment
facility.
Don’t Discuss treatment staff members with the
resident(s)
Don’t Discuss residents(s) with the treatment
facility staff.
Don’t Sponsor resident(s) in the treatment facility
that you are attending as an H&I member.
Don’t Accept money or gifts from, or give gifts to
any residents.
MEETING GUIDELINES
Don’t give anyone within the facility your address
or phone number.
Don’t Provide anyone with another NA member’s
address or phone number.
Don’t Bring in anyone who is not supposed to be
there friends, guests members not cleared by H&I committee.
Don’t Break another person’s anonymity.
Don’t Emphasize “using days” while sharing an NA
message of recovery
Return this to WWASC H&I. This form stays with
H&I sub-committee.
Please print clearly
MAILING
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________________
HOME GROUP& AREA________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
PHONE NUMBERS____________________________________________________________________
DO YOU PRACTICE THE TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE
TRADITIONS OF NA?___________
DO YOU HAVE AND USE A NA
SPONSOR?______________________________________________
DO YOU CARRY A CLEAR NA MESSAGE OF RECOVERY IN
NA?_________________________
DO YOU UNDERSTAND OUR H&I GUIDELINES AND DO’S
AND DON’TS__________________
ARE YOU WILLING TO FOLLOW OUR GUIDELINES AND THE
FACILITY RULES?________
ARE YOU WILLING TO KEEP YOUR H&I
COMMITMENTS?_____________________________
DO YOU KEEP YOUR NA COMMITMENTS?_____________________________________________
HOW WE DRESS AND LANGUAGE WE USE IS A REFLECTION OF
THE NA PROGRAM.
This stays with the H&I committee. Each facility has its own rules and
regulations. Each NA member will need to go through those clearance procedures.
If you have any questions please contact the H&I
committee.
WWWASC H&I
P.O. BOX 445
EVANSTON, WY. 82931-0445
www.wyomingna.org. Attn: H&I