Ensure Warm, Non-Judgmental Meeting Space for Individuals Looking to Heal Through Community

Volunteer Match Listing 6

Hold Warm, Non-Judgmental Space for Individuals Looking to Heal Through Community (Virtual or In-Person throughout San Diego County)

SMART Recovery is looking for volunteers to host weekly 60-minute meetings either on Zoom or in-person throughout San Diego County. Training and support will be provided through our mentorship program and meeting scripts are available for every meeting. All you need to do to run a meeting is show up, read the script, and let recovery happen!

The purpose of our meetings is to create a space for people in recovery from substance use or other unhelpful behaviors to come together, connect, and talk about making positive changes in their lives. Our volunteers make that possible and often find that they gain a lot from these discussions as well, whether they are in recovery themselves or not!

Minimum Requirements:

• Respect each individual and their choices.
• Complete the training, including reading the appropriate documents, attending meetings,

and communicating with your mentor.

• Hold your meeting at the same day and time for at least six months.
• Be intoxicant-free while facilitating.
• Be willing to speak, read aloud in front of others, and follow conversation in English or

Spanish.

• Review and adhere to SMART’s fundamental ideas

[https://www.smartrecovery.org/about-us/] and Principles & Positions

[https://www.smartrecovery.org/principles-positions/].

• Manage your time. Start meetings on time, end on time, and make sure everyone has a

chance to speak.

• Read the meeting scripts provided on the SMART Recovery San Diego website as written.
• Respond in a timely manner to inquiries from SMART Recovery San Diego.
• Solicit and turn in donations.
• Arrange a substitute when needed.

For online meetings:

• Have dependable access to the Internet and a computer, laptop or tablet.
• Be willing to use Zoom, or learn how to.

What is the training process?

Training starts with learning about SMART Recovery through reading and attending meetings.

While listed separately, these can be done simultaneously and can take as little as 5-6 hours if you have never attended a meeting before. After you are more familiar with SMART

Recovery, contact us [training@smartrecoverysd.org] to get matched with a mentor who will help

you learn about meeting management.

• Attend a minimum of three SMART Recovery San Diego meetings (online or in-person) run

by different facilitators to experience a range of meeting types and styles of facilitation. You

can find all our meetings on the calendar. [https://smartrecoverysd.org/meetings/]

• Familiarize yourself with the Primary Meeting Script and the Topic Scripts found in the

Facilitator Resources on our website.

• Learn more about SMART Recovery. This process will continue after you start facilitating

your own meeting. Here are some resources:

• The SMART Recovery Handbook [https://shop.smartrecovery.org]
• Facilitator resources on SMART Recovery San Diego website

[https://smartrecoverysd.org/become-a-facilitator/#facilitator-resources]

• The SMART Recovery national website

[https://www.smartrecovery.org/smart-recovery-toolbox/]

• Using Zoom for meetings [https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697]

• Contact the Facilitator Training Committee [training@smartrecoverysd.org] to be added to

the Google group and matched with a mentor. If you’ve already connected with a mentor, let

them know.

Once You Have a Mentor (1.5-2 hours per week):

• Attend your mentor’s meeting regularly.
• Meet with your mentor following each meeting for a brief review. Continue to meet for

feedback and suggestions throughout your training.

• When you are ready, facilitate your mentor’s meeting using the Primary Script and a Topic

Script. Your mentor will be there for support.

• Continue facilitating your mentor’s meeting until you and your mentor agree that you are

ready to have your own meeting.

• Establish your own meeting

• Email your meeting reports each week and stay in touch with your mentor.

Making a difference

While we ask for a commitment of at least six months, some people find it so rewarding that they continue facilitating for years. Many point to their weekly meetings as a vital part of making positive change in their own lives. They like that they continue to learn about the SMART approach and ways to address their unhelpful behaviors and thoughts. They enjoy the connections they’ve made and being part of a community. As you grow as a facilitator, we hope that you experience these benefits too.

If you’re ready to get started, please email our Training Director: training@smartrecoverysd.org