Start a Meeting | Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families

You can help create a place for recovery.

You do not need to have every answer before you begin. Lone Star Intergroup can support you while you plan and the ACA World Service Organization provides a wealth of meeting materials and guidance.

CONTACT LONE STAR INTERGROUP

S T A R T A N A C A M E E T I N G

ACA WSO STARTER GUIDELINES

Start simply. Let the group grow.

A meeting can begin with a few people, a dependable time and place, and the willingness to follow ACA’s Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

Reach out while you are planning

Email us. We can share local experience, answer questions, and help you connect with nearby ACA members.

1 Choose a meeting type and time

Decide whether the meeting will be in person, online, or hybrid. Choose a weekly time and a simple focus such as discussion, literature, Steps, beginners, or a speaker.

2 Find a consistent, welcoming space

Look for a private, accessible, affordable location such as place of worship or a dedicated recovery center—or set up a dependable online room. A quiet and predictable setting helps members feel safe.

3 Begin with the official meeting format

Use WSO’s Sample Meeting Format and conference-approved readings. Your group can make thoughtful changes later through group conscience.

4 Register the meeting with ACA WSO

Registration places the meeting in the worldwide directory. Select Lone Star as the Intergroup. There is no region. Then send the details to Lone Star Intergroup so the meeting can also be added to our page listing.

5 Welcome people and stay connected

Share the meeting through community listings, counselors, libraries, bulletin boards, and other Twelve Step fellowships with permission. Update the WSO listing each year.

6 What a meeting usually includes

The exact focus may vary, but most ACA meetings share a familiar structure that helps create consistency and safety.

✓ ACA foundational readings

✓ First-name introductions

✓ Timed member sharing

✓ No-crosstalk guidance

✓ Seventh Tradition and closing

✓ Welcome, silence, and Serenity Prayer

✓ Welcoming newcomers

✓ Meeting topic or literature

✓ Confidentiality and anonymity

✓ Service announcements