As members of A.A., we can further our Twelve-Step work and continue forward on our Spiritual Path. It’s also a great time to focus on the Three Legacies of A.A. Being of service in our area’s Hospitals and Institutions Committee work is one way of doing so – One Day at a Time.
“Our Twelfth Step – carrying the message – is the basic service that A.A.’s fellowship gives; this is our principal aim and the main reason for our existence. Therefore A.A. is more than a set of principles; it is a Society of alcoholics in action. We must carry the message, else we ourselves can wither and those who haven’t been given the truth will die.” Bill W. The Language of the Heart
If you are not already involved, please consider how you can be of service to H&I:
*Being an H&I Representative at your home meeting – All of our local A.A. meetings are encouraged to have a representative attend our monthly meeting to voice their group’s conscience and make announcements when necessary.
*Being a Facility Coordinator and/or a Meeting Secretary- We try to average 33 inside meetings weekly.
*Volunteering to be an Inside Visiting Sponsor at Salinas Valley State Prison.
If you have any questions or are interested in being of service, please fill out the volunteer questionnaire below (SantaCruzCountyHI@gmail.com) and attend our next H&I Committee meeting this month (info also below).
Santa Cruz AA H&I Committee Meeting
The Santa Cruz AA H&I Committee holds a monthly business meeting on the 4th Wednesday of each month in the Youth Room at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 420 Melrose Ave in Santa Cruz. The meeting begins promptly at 7:00PM. The room opens at 6:45PM for early fellowship and any H&I questions you might have. We hope to see you there, as all AA members are welcome to attend.
A brief explanation of H&I and our history:
The purpose of the Northern California Hospital and Institution Committee is to carry the message of Alcoholics Anonymous to the alcoholic who is confined. The activities of this committee are governed by the Twelve Traditions and based on the spiritual principles embodied within the Twelve Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The initial spark of hospital work was set in motion on June 13th, 1935 when Bill W. and Dr. Bob (only three days sober at the time) made their first visit to a hospitalized alcoholic and thus found Bil D., the third member of A.A.
Word of A.A.’s success had spread and by 1942 San Quentin Prison Warden Clinton Duffy, recognizing that many of the inmates were incarcerated for reasons related to alcoholism, and concerned about the high recidivism among alcoholics, realized the potential for A.A. to carry the message “behind the walls”. The visionary Warden Duffy contacted an A.A. member from the San Francisco Groups, who along with an inmate named Ricardo, in 1942 conducted one of the first known correctional institution meetings of A.A., reportedly with twenty members in attendance. With regular meetings in San Quentin, the parole figures suddenly dropped from the usual return rate of 80% to a remarkable 20% and held that way.
Today the Northern California Hospitals and Institutions Committee is one of the oldest and largest service committees of Alcoholics Anonymous!
We strongly believe in and try to practice the following Declaration of the 30th Anniversary International Convention.
I am responsible…
When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help,
I want the hand of A.A. always to be there.
And for that: I am responsible.
Announcing
Inside Visiting Sponsorship Service (IVSS) at Salinas Valley State Prison
Providing one-on-one in-person sponsorship to A.A. members confined to California State Prisons.
WHAT WE DO: A special group of A.A. volunteers goes into Salinas Valley State Prison individually as VISITORS to provide one-on-one in-person sponsorship to A.A. members confined to California State Prisons. For more information, visit the IVSS program page.
Volunteers are currently needed!
Treatment Facilities:
Driftwood Health Care – Needs Secretaries Wednesdays @2:00PM
New Life – Spanish Speaking Secretaries needed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Thursday @7:30PM
New Life – Needs secretary 2nd, 5th Wednesday @Noon
Redwood Grove Post Acute – Needs coordinator and secretaries 1st Saturday @10:30AM
Santa Cruz Residential – Needs Secretary for 4th Sunday, 1st Thursday @7:30pm
Telecare Psychiatric Health – Needs secretaries 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Wednesdays @6:00PM (full county clearance needed
The Key – Needs a secretary 5th Wednesday @7:00pm
ALL treatment facilities requirements – 6 months sobriety, working knowledge of the steps.
Correctional Facilities:
Blaine Street – Needs Secretaries for 5th Saturdays @10:00AM… Female
Juvenile Hall – Secretaries, 1 year sobriety. (Needs male support)
Rountree Facilities – Needs Secretaries Thursdays @7:30PM… Male.
Water Street Main Jail – All positions filled.
All Correctional Facilities: One year sobriety, and working knowledge of the steps. Five years since the last felony and two years since the last misdemeanor were required. Orientation training and clearance are required for service at both men’s and women’s county correctional facilities. Orientation is held at the Sheriff’s office at 5200 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz. You must complete an application before orientation can be scheduled. Live Scan background check cost will be covered by H&I. Please advise; clearance will take 4-6 weeks.
How To Volunteer
If you are interested in volunteering to help carry the message into jails and institutions, there are many openings in jails and other facilities. Please see the H&I Help Wanted page for more details.
If you are interested in any of the above service positions, please complete the H&I interest form.
Website last updated on 3/26/2026