Always Beginners 1, 2, 3

Types of AA Meetings

Child-Friendly: Child-friendly AA meetings allow each member to bring up to one child to the meeting, with the expectation that the discussion will not feature experiences or language that are inappropriate for the child. Formal childcare may not be available, but the member can watch over her child while participating in the discussion.

Closed: Closed AA meetings in Illinois are not open to outside observers. Instead, only AA members or individuals looking for help with a drinking problem are invited to attend. The discussions center around topics related to alcoholism and recovery and are of particular value to newcomers.

Newcomer: AA newcomer meetings in Illinois allow members to share about the program with individuals who are just starting their recovery from alcohol addiction. Experienced members normally lead the meetings, which may be structured around Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 of the AA recovery model.

Professionals: Professionals are individuals who generally have white-collar licensed positions, such as doctors and lawyers, and whose alcohol use disorder may negatively impact their careers. AA meetings for professionals enable these anonymous members to build resilience against drinking before it escalates further.