H&I – BTG Literature Project

In 2024 and 2025 the SF BTG and H&I committees are discussing a proposed collaboration in which H&I would distribute BTG literature at H&I meetings in San Francisco.

In the California Northern Coastal AA Area, every district has its own relationship with H&I. In some districts, H&I distributes BTG literature communicate and collaborate. In others, they work in parallel.

The downside to working in parallel is that many hospitals, treatment centers, and correction institutions then have two contacts for AA–BTG that comes in, gives a presentation, and hands out blue cards and pamphlets, and H&I that comes in, brings a meeting, and hands out literature. It can be confusing for program directors/staff.

Proposed Literature

One-page PDF for digital distribution (client tablets, webpages, etc)sfgeneralservice.org/btg/one-page-pdf
4″x6″ sticker
for the inside cover of Big Books		sfgeneralservice.org/btg/sticker
BTG trifold flyersfgeneralservice.org/btg/area-flyer

Update – H&I Business Meeting
Sat Jan 18, 2025

Sascha (outgoing SF BTG chair) and Tony (incoming BTG chair) are unable to attend due to a conflicting Area event. We look forward to continuing this discussion in March!

Update – H&I Business Meeting
Sat Nov 16, 2024

  • SF county Jails has a digital version of SF BTG literature on their client resource tablets. For any other institution that would like a one-page digital resource, you can find it at sfgeneralservice.org/btg/one-page-pdf .
  • SF BTG has also mocked up a 4″x6″ sticker that could go into the front cover of a Big Book or other literature that gives info to help anyone inside connect with their local AA fellowship through BTG. An example of that sticker is at sfgeneralservice.org/btg/sticker
  • For someone interested in reaching out to BTG, the best way is via email or USPS mail to the Area BTG committee, who will route the request to the correct district. (E.g. if you are in jail in SF and you’re returning to San Jose the request will be routed to BTG in San Jose.) An online contact request form is available for SF, but since it does not go to the Area, it should not be used in this context.
  • The Area has an already approved and published BTG flyer sfgeneralservice.org/btg/area-flyer
  • SF BTG proposes any or all of the three pieces of literature linked above to be made available to San Francisco H&I to distribute at H&I meetings.
  • An overview of BTG service in SF and how it works can be found at sfgeneralservice.org/btg/services-and-operations.
    Note: some of these linked documents take a long time to load.
  • If any district BTG committee ceases to exist, the Area BTG committee will work with that district’s general service committee to handle the incoming requests and replace their BTG committee. 
  • No one from BTG in SF has talked to NorCal H&I. Building that relationship would extend beyond the 4th tradition scope of the District 06 BTG committee in San Francisco.

Notes

From BTG forum Dec 7, 2024

It was brought up at the Area 06 BTG forum on Saturday Dec 7th that collaboration between local H&I and BTG committees is commonplace and quite valuable.

It was pointed out that evidence of this long-standing relationship can be found in the Northern California H&I Policies and Procedures Manual (July 2024 edition) (link).

In Sample Format #1 for H&I meetings in short to medium term facilities on the H&I NorCal website (link) and page 24 of the H&I manual, optional item #2 states:

Contact with local A.A. office or A.A. member immediately upon release – hand out Bridging the Gap cards if appropriate.

In Sample Format #2 for H&I Meetings in Long-Term Facilities in the H&I manual (page 25), item 7 states:

The last five minutes of the meeting should be reserved for the H&I meeting volunteer to stress the importance of A.A. literature, sponsorship, and working the twelve suggested steps of recovery. Special note should be made of the importance of making an outside A.A. contact prior to release or discharge.