Public Relations Handbook - Narcotics Anonymous

More documents

Recommendations

Info

with alternatives. One alternative might be that individual NA members can pickup clients and take them to local NA meetings in the community. Clarify what NA does and doesn’t do. For example, we don’t provideprofessional counseling, but we do practice sponsorship. Be straightforward and honest about the likelihood of encountering members inmeetings with prejudices toward clients on medication and drug-replacementtherapies. In some communities, NA is started in treatment facilities. NA members needto be careful that NA is not seen as being affiliated with a treatment facility. NAmeetings may be held in a facility, but an NA meeting is not a particulartreatment center’s meeting. A treatment center may also refer its clients to NAas a community resource; however, we need to clarify that while NA may beone resource for those leaving treatment, we are not a treatment center’sofficial aftercare program. When working with treatment professionals, respect the anonymity ofprofessionals and staff who may also be members of NA. Treatment centers areseparate from NA; not all employees may be aware of their coworkers’involvement in NA. Members who are also treatment professionals may need to consider that theirrole as a treatment professional is separate from their role as an NA member. Inthe role of a treatment professional, an individual is usually following treatmentprotocols instead of acting as an NA member talking about their personalrecovery in NA. Encourage treatment professionals—counselors, therapists, case managers, andthose recovering in other fellowships—to attend open NA meetings to helpthem have a better understanding of NA. Treatment professionals may want toattend meetings other than those their clients attend; this is respectful of theirclients’ anonymity and may allow for a different understanding of NA based onmembers who are not their clients. Attending NA meetings may giveprofessionals a greater sense of what NA has to offer their clients. As a result,these professionals may feel more comfortable referring clients to NA. Show treatment professionals examples of long-term NA recovery. Invitemembers with long-term recovery to presentations, and invite treatment staff toNA meetings attended by members with long-term recovery.Interacting with addiction-treatment organizationsInteractions with professional organizations will benefit from a coordinated planthat allows for an ongoing, cooperative relationship. The following points can helparea service committees prepare for interacting with professional organizations inthe addiction-treatment profession: The area can develop a coordinated area plan for interacting with professionalassociations. A plan can help trusted servants understand their responsibilityand the goals of the interaction. A coordinated plan ensures that trustedservants share the information they gain from their interactions with othertrusted servants and members in the area. It also makes sure that theinformation an area provides to professional organizations is accurate; forexample, helpline numbers and meeting schedules are up-to-date, and the areahas reliable contact information.70 | Chapter 7 | Treatment
The area can develop criteria to prioritize what level of participation at theseevents (attendance, exhibit, or presentation) makes the most sense. One level ofparticipation would simply be to attend, supplying meeting information, localhelpline numbers, and NA contact information at the event. The area may decideto participate in a more interactive fashion by presenting information about NA totreatment professionals (social workers, counselors, case workers, etc.). Another option is for the area to begin cooperative relationships with agenciesthat work with or assist treatment clients. For example, these relationships canbe with clergy connected with the spiritual-treatment approach, governmentagencies responsible for child and family services, or colleges and universitiesthat have addiction certification or degree programs. There are a variety of professional addiction treatment organizations around theworld. Some of the more recognizable organizations are the International Councilon Alcohol and Addictions, the American Society of Addiction Medicine,chemical-dependency nursing associations, etc. These professional organizationshave conferences that are held in different cities all around the world. An area canfind out if a conference is scheduled in their part of the world. Professionalconferences can be a great way for an area to begin creating relationships withthose who are involved with addiction treatment. Areas can work with the regionor NA World Services for guidance and support in these efforts.The area can also consider hosting a local public-relations roundtable. Aroundtable is a structured meeting where the local NA community providesinformation about NA to professionals and then listens to feedback from specificquestions asked about NA (see the area PR roundtable format at the end of thechapter). The aim of a roundtable is to create a cooperative relationship thatbenefits all those involved. We can ask professionals about their experience withNA; it may be that the experience is not all positive. Trusted servants can rememberthat this constructive criticism is likely to help us improve our ability to carry NA’smessage of recovery. Roundtables can also be a place where we dispel myths aboutaddicts and NA, and they can help us improve the ways we provide services.Whether an area service committee is just beginning to develop relationships intreatment settings or if ongoing relationships are being strengthened, public relationsis enhanced by reliable and consistent communication, accurate information, andcooperative relationships.ResourcesFrequently asked questions – Treatment professionalsPresentation kitsHandouts for professionalsOctober 2006 | PR <strong>Handbook</strong> | 71
Page 2 and 3:
Public RelationsStatementWhy public
Page 4 and 5:
Copyright © 2006, 2007 byNarcotics
Page 7 and 8:
prefaceWelcome to the Public Relati
Page 9 and 10:
chapter1NA AND P UBLIC R ELATIONSTh
Page 11 and 12:
What does “public relations” me
Page 13 and 14:
chapter2C ORE P UBLIC R ELATIONS P
Page 15 and 16:
The principle of anonymity encourag
Page 17 and 18:
and the members in the group give t
Page 19 and 20:
Attraction …The attractiveness of
Page 21 and 22:
In understanding the principle unde
Page 23 and 24:
An NA group ought never endorse, fi
Page 25 and 26:
“Forever nonprofessional”During
Page 27 and 28: chapter3E FFECTIVE S ERVICESThis ch
Page 29 and 30: There are several ways to prioritiz
Page 31 and 32: presentations. Trusted servants who
Page 33 and 34: Flexible service structuresA flexib
Page 35 and 36: Below are possible components of a
Page 37 and 38: P REPARATION AND T RAININGFOR I NTE
Page 39 and 40: What do we know about them?Just as
Page 41 and 42: means that we may seek help from me
Page 43 and 44: highlight the diversity of our fell
Page 45 and 46: Another way to prepare for presenta
Page 47: chapter5M EDIAOur public relations
Page 50 and 51: Is the committee prepared for possi
Page 52 and 53: Discussing these kinds of topics wi
Page 54 and 55: Some NA members who have participat
Page 56 and 57: 48 | Chapter 5 | Media
Page 58 and 59: is attractive, newcomers and potent
Page 60 and 61: Training and preparing trusted serv
Page 62 and 63: P u t t i n g y o u r p l a n i n t
Page 64 and 65: MedicationRegardless of the persona
Page 66 and 67: Invite drug-court personnel to part
Page 68 and 69: The signing of cards is providing a
Page 70 and 71: 62 | Chapter 6 | Criminal Justice
Page 72 and 73: committee chairperson. We need othe
Page 74 and 75: settings. The following list can he
Page 76 and 77: Sponsorship and treatmentIf a treat
Page 80 and 81: 72 | Chapter 7 | Treatment
Page 82 and 83: How can NA benefit from forming coo
Page 84 and 85: Training and preparing trusted serv
Page 86 and 87: crimes. This research is a valuable
Page 88 and 89: 80 | Chapter 8 | Healthcare
Page 90 and 91: Attraction…What is likely to be a
Page 92 and 93: Volunteers can be trained to use NA
Page 94 and 95: ReferralsMany phoneline calls are f
Page 96 and 97: NA members answering callsAdvantage
Page 98 and 99: 90 | Chapter 9 | Phonelines
Page 100 and 101: Public relations and Internet techn
Page 102 and 103: linking to the NAWS website, an are
Page 104 and 105: unmediated forum, however, is like
Page 106 and 107: AccountabilityThere are responsibil
Page 108 and 109: We must remember that, wherever we
Page 110 and 111: As detailed in Chapter Four, traini
Page 112 and 113: 104 | Chapter 11 | Event Planning
Page 114 and 115: members put their individual wants
Page 116 and 117: fellowship development efforts, be
Page 118 and 119: We encourage each member of the gro
Page 120 and 121: If the area decides that they will
Page 122 and 123: What are some ways that the area ca
Page 124 and 125: type of hierarchical tradition may
Page 126: A Vision for NA ServiceAll of the e
show all

Public Relations Handbook - Narcotics Anonymous

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?