The Importance of SCANNING World Service Conference April 2010

The Importance of Scanning2 Information Loop P____ P_____ D______ M_____ E_____ *Communicate* *Engage Others* R_____ What Leaders Do

The Importance of Scanning3 Sources of Information - NAWS  Inside the fellowship WHO Individual members Local trusted servants Regional delegates HOW Discussion boards Zonal Forums WSC Workshops Surveys, contact with WSO  Outside the fellowship WHO Local professionals National professionals Treatment counselors Government agencies Drug courts Professional associations HOW Meetings, conferences Publications Research studies, reports Focus groups, etc. Information Loop NAWS Strategic Planning

The Importance of Scanning4 What is Scanning? Scanning is... a process leaders use on a regular basis to collect and analyze information about the environment in which the service body operates. Scanning collects information from NA members and the service body, and from outside of NA. Leaders scan in order to... better understand the changing world around them and how change could affect the ability of the service unit to achieve its goals and further the NA vision. Leaders use scan information to... identify challenges as well as opportunities that the service unit should address, and to guide decisions on the best action to take to address challenges and take advantage of opportunities to better serve the members.

The Importance of Scanning5 The NAWS Scan: Using Information to Make Good Decisions Collect What do we hear, observe? Analyze What does it mean? Act What should we do about it?  The UN continues to put more funding into drug interdiction than treatment.  The medical communities lean more toward drug replacement therapies.  Medication abuse is one of the more prevalent causes of relapse.  Medical residents receive only 0 to 6 hours of addiction training.  Increase in drug courts and referrals from drug courts. ETC… Groups may become overwhelmed with members from drug courts who have different expectations of NA. NA philosophy may be increasingly in conflict with prevailing attitudes about treatment... may cause confusion among the membership. NA credibility as a program of recovery may weaken. Provide clear guidance and support on philosophical issues that challenge NA groups. (Objective 6) Local leaders have the tools to address several complex issues currently facing the fellowship. (2010 Outcome) Approaches:  Publish In Times of Illness...  Collect best practices on how to respond to drug courts and develop tools and discussions...  Donations continue to increase, but not at the same rate as expenses.  Income from literature sales continues to increase, but not at the same rate as production expenses.  A culture of supporting NAWS through direct fellowship and group donations does not exist.  There is heavy reliance on conventions and events as sources of funds.  Demand for service is increasing at the same time that resources are declining. ETC… The level of service provided is not sustainable into the future. The general fellowship may not see the value of the work NAWS is doing in furthering the NA vision on a global scale. NAWS may need to look at additional sources of revenue. Raise awareness and a sense of responsibility on the part of the fellowship to adequately fund the cost of services, throughout NA, including NAWS. (Objective 13) Increase the level of fellowship contributions throughout the service system. (2010 Outcome) Approaches:  Initiate a 3-year message campaign that builds on group donations  Create self-support session profiles and tools…

The Importance of Scanning6 Sample Area Scan Collect Review the information collected from the sample Area scan. Analyze What can we learn from the information collected? What are some of the possible issues the Area may need to address? Act What are some possible goals the Area should include in their Plan? What are one or two approaches they could take to achieve these goals? Information from INSIDE THE FELLOWSHIP  Members are generally apathetic toward service  ASC meeting attendance has been declining  Members are aware of the ASC, but concern themselves only with their group  GSR orientations are inconsistent; no written orientation materials exist  No professional members at meetings; new addicts that are professionals don’t stay  There is an increase in older members  Two groups represent over 80% of area funds; other groups don’t contribute regularly Goal: Approach: Goal: Approach: Information from OUTSIDE THE FELLOWSHIP  Local doctors want meetings that match specific client demographics  Doctors are reluctant to send patients on medication to NA  Local drug courts are creating a large influx of court mandated addicts in meetings  Increasing mentions of NA in local papers; media inquiries and requests for presentations are on the rise  PI function is not pro-active Goal: Approach: Goal: Approach:

The Importance of Scanning7 RD: A Critical Link in the Scanning and Planning Process How the RD Provides Input into the NAWS Planning and Scanning Process Currently  Regional Reports  World Service Conference discussion  Zonal Forum discussion  NAWS Discussion Boards  Dialog with World Board members and WSO staff  Other?? Ways the RD can more effectively participate in the NAWS Planning and Scanning Process:  Ways the RD can more effectively report on the work of World Services to other parts of the service system:  Regional Delegate Role: “The Regional Delegate (RD) serves as the primary contact between NA’s world services and the local NA community. On the one hand, the delegate provides information on current world service projects to the regional committee. On the other, the delegate provides local perspective to the work of world services.” -- A Guide to World Services