SA Correctional Facilities Committee (CFC) Update

I am happy to report that the CFC now has approximately $8,000 in named reserve, mostly as a result of the Pennsylvania prison news (see December 2010 ESSAY). This is more than enough money to cover starter kits for all Pennsylvania prisons, so we would like to send White Books to prison libraries throughout the country. If you would like copies of Sexaholics Anonymous for your local prisons, please identify the prisons in your area, as well as contact people in each prison.

During the holiday season, our work at the Pennsylvania prisons slowed down a bit. To regain momentum, we are developing a Step One, Two, and Three workshop that we could bring into prisons for a weekend kickoff. We are working on the format and preparing a letter that will describe the process, training, and benefits to the prisoners.

In February we held our first “How to Start a Local CFC” teleconference meeting, with much lively discussion. The starting point for forming a CFC is finding a member who is willing to chair the committee and bring it up for vote at the local Intergroup. Once the committee is formed, the first order of business is finding sponsors to participate in the sponsor-by-mail program.

The sponsor-by-mail program is a much-needed service. We continue to have many more sponsees than available sponsors, so we encourage members throughout the fellowship to participate. Please contact us for more information about how you can become a sponsor by mail.

During the teleconference, we discussed the possibility of sending introductory materials to helping professionals in local corrections facilities and the process for identifying those individuals. We also discussed how AA conducts its prison outreach, including the handbook for prison outreach work, and the concept of boot camps to train members on how to carry the message inside.

If you would like to receive a full copy of the teleconference minutes, please contact the CFC at sacfc1@gmail.com.

I am grateful for all of you who are serving SA members in prisons around the world.

In Love and Service,