Bridging the Gap Committee
Bridging the Gap supports that very important first step for anyone who has just been released from a hospital, treatment center, or correctional facility by providing temporary contacts who help the newcomer make the transition to Alcoholics Anonymous in their home community. Patients and inmates are often introduced to AA while in treatment or correctional facilities; however, they may not know how to proceed upon release and sometimes find it difficult to reach out to AA on their own. Statistics show, however, that people just exiting an institution have significantly higher chance of staying sober if they get to a meeting immediately following their release.
Bridging the Gap volunteers act as liaisons, working in pairs to accompany these individuals to their first AA meeting outside the institution. People who are about to be released from an institution can complete a card requesting a temporary contact to accompany the newcomer to a meeting. Temporary contacts can also answer any questions that the newcomer has about AA and share information about the importance of home groups, sponsors, and going to meetings.
Bridging the Gap committees exist at both Area and District levels. Cards are returned to the Area BTG chair, who then forwards them on to the appropriate district representatives. CNCA Bridging the Gap committee invites anyone who is interested in BTG — either participating or just learning more about it — to attend the monthly committee meeting.
Or, you can write to the Area BTG Chair at the following address: Bridging the Gap P.O. Box 750623 Petaluma, CA 94975-0623. You can also attend your monthly district meeting and speak to the District BTG chair. The Area BTG Chair can also be contacted by email here or (btgchair@cnca06.org).
For your district meeting time and place, contact your General Service Representative or contact your Central Office/Intergroup Office.
TWELVE STEP VOLUNTEERS WANTED
To ease the transition of recovering alcoholics being released from treatment facilities and other places of confinement into the A.A. Community. Involves accompanying newcomers to an A.A. meeting after their release, and introducing them to members of the group. If you would like to sign-up to be a BTG 12thStep Volunteer please use the form below. The Districts also have a Bridging the Gap Committee Chair and you may inquire at your District Meeting so that you may volunteer for service at this District Bridging the Gap Committee.