Outreach

What is Outreach?

Outreach is simply sharing Nar-Anon’s message. The goal is to let families and friends of addicts know that hope and help is available through the Nar-Anon program. Outreach is the vital link between individuals seeking help and members who share their experience, strength, and hope. Outreach to professionals and programs in contact with families and friends of addicts are an important part of this effort.

Why do we do outreach?

We do outreach to let those affected by someone else’s addiction know they are not alone and there is a program where they can find support for themselves. We work Step Twelve and fulfill our primary purpose when we try to increase public awareness of Nar-Anon and share information about our Twelve Step program.

Source: Nar-Anon Family Groups Outreach Handbook, 2023, p2

Tradition Five: Each Nar-Anon Family Group has but one purpose; to help families of addicts. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps of Nar-Anon, by encouraging and understanding our addicted relatives, and by welcoming and giving comfort to families of addicts.

Does your group have questions about how to do outreach?

1. Check out Nar-Anon's Outreach Handbook for more information.
2. Email [email protected] for resources specific to New York.

Outreach Handbook
2023, Nar-Anon World Service Office

Our Public Relations Policy

Tradition Eleven: Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, internet, and other forms of mass media. We need guard with special care the anonymity of all NA members.

Attraction, not promotion, what’s the difference?

We attract when we:

Share information about Nar-Anon
Model healthy behaviors and interactions
Cooperate with NA, treatment centers, institutions, individuals, and professionals
Share what Nar-Anon means to us
Focus on our personal recovery
Share how we use the tools of the program
Avoid gossip about the addict or others
Protect anonymity for ourselves and others
Share about how we protect anonymity

We promote when we:

Tell others what to do
Guarantee results
Comment, criticize, or compare Nar-Anon to other programs or fellowships
Take on the role as the spokesperson representing Nar-Anon

Nar-Anon outreach practices should be based on attraction, not promotion.

Tradition Three: The relatives of addicts, when gathered for mutual aid, may call themselves a Nar-Anon Family Group, provided that as a group, they have no other affiliation. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend.

Tradition Six: Our Family Groups ought never to endorse, finance or lend our name to any outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary spiritual aim; but although a separate entity, we should always cooperate with Narcotics Anonymous.

Nar-Anon focuses on cooperation to share its message of hope. Outreach is done through cooperation, the act of working together in a common effort with a common goal in mind.

We cooperate when we:

Respect the needs or requests of those with whom we are working
Provide Nar-Anon material
Set up an information table where appointed
Show up in twos to share when asked
Follow the rules and procedures of the hosting facility
Respect the agenda and time limits

We affiliate when we:

Endorse any professional
Endorse any treatment center
Endorse any other entity or program
Allow Nar-Anon’s name or logo to be attached to any other organization, event, or entity (i.e., Nar-Anon’s name and logo should not be used alongside other participants on an event banner, but an individual Nar-Anon banner can be displayed)

Nar-Anon outreach practices should be based on cooperation, not affiliation.

Outreach Reminders

General

Keep the principles of the program in mind when doing outreach – attraction, not promotion; cooperation, not affiliation; self-supporting; anonymity.
Select panel members, speakers, and chairpersons with knowledge and willingness to adhere to the principles of the Nar-Anon program.
Ensure that a clear Nar-Anon message of experience, strength and hope is carried by all members involved in outreach.
Partner with one or more members for outreach.
Protect the anonymity of all persons.
Have current meeting directories available.
Start and end on time!
Emphasize Nar-Anon is available to all relatives and friends of addicts.
Clearly state Nar-Anon is not affiliated with the host and other fellowships. Attempt to get all agreements in writing.
Use good judgment.
Understand and obey the rules of the host.

Treatment Facilities

Select panel members, speakers, and chairpersons without a family member or friend in the facility.
Always adhere to the security regulations at all times.
Stay on topic and avoid discussion of the facility, facility staff, or outside issues.
Avoid showing favoritism to any resident, sharing contact information, or carrying messages into or out of the facility.
Money or gifts should not be received from or given to anyone in the facility.