Cooperation with the Professional Community: Overview

The Cooperation with the Professional Community, or C.P.C. Committee carries the message of A.A.’s purpose to the professional (medical, legal, judicial, and religious) community through workshops, seminars, and various other activities. Any A.A. member can participate in the C.P.C. activities. We need members to be a part of this golden opportunity to introduce the professionals to A.A. Choose the section below that most closely matches your professional affiliation. If none of these seem to match, please feel free to reach out and contact us using the form below - or send email to cpcdirector@aasepia.org

Origin and Purpose of CPC

“Our Twelfth Step—carrying the message—is the basic service that the A.A. Fellowship gives; this is our principal aim and the main reason for our existence. Therefore, A.A. is more than a set of principles; it is a society for alcoholics in action. We must carry the message, else we ourselves can wither and those who haven’t been given the truth may die.”

The A.A. Service Manual, “A.A.’s Legacy of Service” p. S1

C.P.C. came into being as a distinct entity in 1970 when the trustees’ committee was formed as an outgrowth of the Public Information Committee. In 1971, the Conference C.P.C. Committee was established. Today, many local communities, areas, and regions consider C.P.C. an activity separate from public information, treatment or corrections work. In some places, though, there is overlap. Members of C.P.C. committees inform professionals and future professionals about A.A.— what we are, where we are, what we can do, and what we cannot do. They attempt to establish better communication between A.A.s and professionals, and to find simple, effective ways of cooperating without affiliating.

Why Does C.P.C. Exist?

Cooperating with nonalcoholic professionals is an effective way to carry the message to the sick alcoholic. Such people often meet the alcoholic in places where A.A. is not present. Through professionals, alcoholics may be reached who might otherwise never find the program, or they may be reached sooner with the help of informed non‑A.A.s. A professional can be anyone who deals with problem drinkers in the course of their work. Many of these people often encounter the suffering alcoholic, and in spite of public awareness, many of them simply don’t know what to do with a drunk. Through work with C.P.C. professionals can obtain a good understanding of the disease of Alcoholism as well as the A.A. program of recovery and resources where they might refer someone struggling.

How Can We Help You?

Our soul purpose is to carry the message of recovery outside the rooms of A.A. If you are a member of a professional community that interacts with or has contact with potential alcoholics, we can help you by providing resources in the form of presentations, literature and even setting up programs to educate your students, or colleagues on a regular basis. Review the page links at the top of this page to see if one of those matches your professional area of affiliation. If you need additional information use the form below to reach out.