A SMART Recovery Volunteer Advisor (VA) is an
individual who 1) has extensive knowledge of SMART Recovery training
materials, or 2) by virtue of professional behavioral health
experience is familiar with the scientific and professional
literature on empirically supported addiction treatment and also has
a basic knowledge of SMART Recovery training materials. The VA is
designated by the President. Often these designations acknowledge
informal relationships between professionals and volunteers that
have existed for some time.
The VA serves as a consultant to volunteers as
they apply SMART Recovery principles in their activities. The VA
helps the volunteer understand SMART Recovery principles more fully,
and consider options for how to apply them. The VA does not give
directives about how to apply them. The relationship between a VA
and one or more volunteers lasts as long as the volunteers find
these relationships helpful. The VA has available for his or her own
consultation the President or any member of the Board of Directors.
Although SMART Recovery provides direction and
guidance to its Meeting Facilitators and other volunteers through
written, video and audio training materials, annual training events
and periodic distance training events, the exact application of
SMART Recovery principles to the diversity of issues that
participants present, and the group dynamic issues that arise in
SMART Recovery meetings, may benefit from the thoughtful
interpretation of a VA. Questions about the application of SMART
Recovery principles in meetings or similar settings (e.g., the
Message Board) are best asked of Volunteer Advisors, if not members
of the SMART Recovery Board of Directors. Volunteers may contact the
SMART Recovery Central Office for answers to administrative
questions.
The VA has no authority within the SMART Recovery
organization, and is not responsible for the actions of the
organization or any of its volunteers. In addition to providing
consultation to volunteers, many VA's also provide a substantial
amount of administrative support for local meetings. How much
support will depend on local traditions and circumstances, and how
involved local volunteers are willing to be in administrative
matters.
Among the coordinating activities VA's have
engaged in are: providing a phone line and answering machine for
inquirers, updating as needed the information on the phone message
(which normally includes both meeting information and background
information about SMART Recovery), speaking with inquirers, mailing
information to inquirers, arranging for publicity, stocking and
distributing publications, helping to arrange new meetings, and
occasionally facilitating a meeting as a model of how to conduct
meetings, though all of these might also be handled by a "Volunteer
Coordinator," who like the VA, might or might not also serve as a
meeting Facilitator. VAs are especially appropriate for giving media
interviews and making public presentations.
Some VAs also function as meeting facilitators on an
ongoing basis. This is a completely acceptable practice, and may
arise for various reasons. For instance, no one else may be
available, or the VA simply enjoys the opportunity to donate his or
her time in this way. However, ongoing meeting facilitation is
outside of the normal VA role, and is not expected of VAs.
There are possible indirect benefits to taking on
the VA role if the VA is in private practice. The VA may become more
well-known in his or her community for treating addictive behavior,
and may receive referrals of this type. It is therefore essential
that a clear distinction between SMART Recovery activities and
private practice activities is maintained. For instance, in local
SMART Recovery literature and outgoing phone messages it is
appropriate to list the VA's address and phone number as a point of
contact for inquirers. It is not appropriate to indicate in
literature, in the phone message, or to callers (unless they
specifically ask) that the VA offers professional services. It is
appropriate to discuss with facilitators the occasions when they
might suggest that a meeting participant seek professional
consultation. It is not appropriate to advise facilitators to make
referrals to the VA whenever an opportunity presents itself.
Facilitators are under no obligation to refer to anyone, but
experience has shown that they do refer some individuals to VA's
they have grown to respect.
VA's who do not maintain a clear distinction between
their for-profit activities and SMART Recovery's non-profit
activities will be dismissed from the organization. However, SMART
Recovery would be pleased if competent and ethical professionals who
offer scientifically based treatment for addictive behavior become
better known in their communities.
