What does Sponsorship have to do with Outreach?  

Sponsorship is one of the foundations of our Twelve Step program. It is how many of us “work the Steps.” To carry the message, we must give back what has been given to us and often members of Twelve Step fellowships choose to sponsor. We also can support sponsorship in our local or regional groups by facilitating opportunities to learn about sponsorship, increasing the willingness and capacity to sponsor.

When meeting members are working the CoDA Twelve Step program, ideally with a sponsor, meetings tend to be healthier. Healthy meetings, run by the principles of our program, are the foundation for which we attract the newcomer and encourage their return. We need the foundation of healthy meetings and sponsorship for the outreach to new members to be effective. If a newcomer enters CoDA, and finds no one willing to sponsor, it can be disheartening.

So many CoDA members are hesitant to sponsor, yet this is an important component of our program and our healing. Each CoDA member has experience, strength and hope to share. Yet many feel they are not “ready” to sponsor. In the Resources for Sponsors section, there are ideas and support materials to assist in sponsoring, especially for those who are hesitant to try.

In this section, we provide information to assist with understanding what sponsorship is, and isn’t, in order to encourage service in this area.

What is sponsorship?

Sponsors are people within the CoDA program who help guide us through the Twelve Step recovery process. These CoDA members are recovering codependents whose personal recovery is a priority. They continue to learn how to live happy and fulfilling lives and are willing to share their experience, strength, and hope (ESH) with us. They have usually been in recovery longer than we have. They’re often who we call for help when we are confused or overwhelmed.

Sponsors can remain objective and detached from feeling responsible for our happiness and recovery. They also refrain from behaving abusive, critical, or controlling ways that can result in fixing, rescuing, and acting as a therapist, sexual manipulation, or for personal gain. Sponsors are role models for recovery, sources of loving support, and respectful of anonymity and individual pace of recovery.

Are you looking for a sponsor? Are you willing to be a sponsor?

If you are new to CoDA and looking for a sponsor, here is a link to the form from the coda.org site. You can also use the form if you are willing to be a sponsor.