Proposal 2025-3 – Creation of Sponsor Database
Submitted by: ZAF0004 (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Issue: We propose that one or more consolidated databases of available sponsors be maintained at an organisational level above the group level (possibly Intergroup or Region level), to be a resource for groups lacking suitable sponsors within their own membership.
Background: A key aspect of the recovery journey for an ACA member is to establish effective relationships with one or more sponsors. Some groups may be too small or too new to offer a cadre of suitable sponsors within their membership. Members of these marginal groups can struggle to establish a connection with a qualified sponsor, which can impact negatively on their recovery. This proposal is intended to address this shortcoming by providing a formal database or databases of available sponsors who are part of the wider ACA organisation and who are willing to be sponsors to adult children reaching out from these marginal groups. This proposal foresees that ACA members worldwide can nominate themselves for inclusion in the database. They can also qualify their availability according to various criteria which would assist group members in selecting candidates. These criteria could include such attributes as age, period of ACA membership, level of availability, language, cultural background, religion, time zone, etc. (These attributes are offered as suggestions only, and would need to be developed more carefully.)
Resources/Implementation: Not included in Proposal
WSO Analysis: Factors to Consider: WSO does not currently maintain a sponsor database. IT indicates that the technology for maintaining a sponsor database is feasible. Most other 12-Step programs do not maintain sponsor databases due to the challenges of upkeep. One 12-Step WSO shared that they previously maintained a database but discontinued it because demand for sponsors exceeded availability, and maintaining the database was time-consuming. Instead, they now offer sponsorship workshops and newcomer-focused meetings. This proposal raises the question about whether it is appropriate for this to be managed by WSO, or if it is better handled by Groups, Intergroups or Regions. If the fellowship would like WSO to move forward on this, there are several key items that may need to be considered:
1. A cost analysis is required, as the database is not included in the 2025 budget.
2. The question of who will manage the database—whether volunteers or staff—must be resolved, including responsibilities for periodic updates, member support, and troubleshooting.
3. Protecting the anonymity of both sponsors and sponsees is essential and must be prioritized.
4. Liability concerns must be addressed, as ACA WSO does not vet or certify sponsors. This creates potential risks if a negative sponsorship experience occurs.
5. A clear process for handling complaints should be established, along with specific guidelines for removing sponsors from the database, if necessary.