God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
-- Reinhold Niebuhr

The twelve step recovery program is not limited to Alcoholics Anonymous. It belongs to everyone and has been adapted to countless purposes, such as:

• Al-Anon - support for members of families affected by chemical dependency
• AlaTeen - support for teenagers with parents or siblings who are problem drinkers
• NA - Narcotics Anonymous, support and recovery for those who abuse drugs
• CoDA - Codependents Anonymous, support for individuals whose relationships have been unsatisfying or harmful
• ACoA - Adult Children of Alcoholics, support for those impacted by alcoholism in family of origin
• OA - Overeaters Anonymous, support for those with eating disorders
• GA - Gamblers Anonymous, support for those addicted to gambling
• SAA - Sexual Addicts Anonymous, support for those with sexual obsessions
• FA - Families Anonymous, support for parents and siblings of alcoholic or addicted children
• EA - Emotions Anonymous, support for those dealing with shame, grief, depression, fear, anger, and other emotional problems.
• DA - Debtors Anonymous, support for those with out-of-control spending habits; DA is related to Gamblers Anon, and if debts result from gambling, GA is a better fit.

Note: behaviors that become addictive can become the focus of new groups even though no organization exists to address that problem; for example: spending, religious fanaticism, video gaming, etc. Only individuals personally involved can start a new 12-step group such as AA and Al-Anon, but HC-RN can initiate support groups for any purpose.

CIRCLES - The circle meeting stems from Native American traditions, and utilizes a "talking piece," which can be any object small enough to fit in the hand. Suitable for up to twelve people, a circle is formed around a carefully-constructed center and the talking piece passes from one individual to another. Only the one holding the talking piece may speak; all others are asked to honor the process by careful listening. The circle keeper will set a theme, evoking personal stories from each speaker. This resembles a twelve-step meeting in that it calls forth stories of real life, but the circle is more open-ended and fits any group of almost any age.

River Falls Meyer MS provides a tutoring program for students with any kind of special need. Healthy Communities will be providing activities and treats for students in this after-school program. Contact Gary Campbell at Meyer for details.

To view a schedule of meetings, click here.