Both in-person and online meetings have observed that there are meetings which there are not enough sponsors present at the meeting vs. the need for newcomers seeking either a sponsor or someone to help them on a temporary basis while finding a permanent sponsor.

A Temporary Sponsor would have the same role and responsibility as traditionally understood and practiced in the general recovery community, e.g. an acting sponsor that guides addicts while they seek a permanent sponsor, or when an addict's permanent sponsor is no longer available to him/her/they/them. This may involve check-in phone calls, step work, or reading the Big Book, but what the role ends up being is entirely up to the temporary sponsor and the newcomer to define (including time duration).

Yes – A number of different types of fellowships (CMA, AA, NA) use similar formats in various cities across the US like NYC, LA, SF, and Philly. Several other examples from other cities were used to help develop the Temporary Sponsor List for CMA Chicago.

No – Each meeting has the ability to decide if they wish to participate and have their GSR help put newcomers in need with a sponsor off the list. Each meeting should have a business meeting to decide if they wish to participate.

Anyone who has a year or more of sobriety, a working knowledge of the 12 steps, and a willingness to help a newcomer can sign up via the form on on this page.

Once someone signs up to be a Temporary Sponsor, only GSRs will have access to contact information of the people who sign up (information includes First Name, Last Initial, Email Address, Phone Number, Pronouns, and City).

*First Name, Last Initial, and email are required.

*Phone Number, Pronouns, and city are optional.

If a newcomer is in need of a temporary sponsor but none are available at that particular meeting, the GSR will facilitate connecting the newcomer & temporary sponsor via the following:

· GSR will get contact information from the newcomer.

· GSR will go to a password-protected list of persons who have signed up to be temporary sponsors and contact someone off the list to see if they are available to help the newcomer.

· If the person contacted off the Temporary Sponsorship List says they are available to help the newcomer, then the GSR gives that person the contact information of the newcomer.

· If the person contacted off the Temporary Sponsorship List says they are not available to help the newcomer, then the GSR contacts another person on the list until they find someone who is available.

· The Temporary Sponsor then contacts the newcomer to see how they can be of service.

Those who sign up to be a Temporary Sponsor may take their name off the list at any time simply by contacting your meeting GSR or emailing info@cmchicago.org

The need came from observations at local CMA Chicago meetings. A combination of GSRs, Intergroup Members, and other fellows from the CMA community were involved in adapting similar Temporary Sponsorship Lists from other cities around the US to fit the needs here in Chicago over a 4-month period of discussion and revisions taking into account the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions.

CMAChicago Intergroup’s role was in developing a suggested process and providing the digital list for multiple meetings to share information for the betterment of the fellowship. Intergroup’s involvement going forward would be limited to protecting contact information and GSRs who connect newcomers to those signed up on the Temporary Sponsorship List.

The Temporary Sponsorship List is on a 6-month trial basis and will be reviewed at the end of the year (This meeting will be announced in November and will be open to the entire fellowship).