Reporting Problematic Behaviour

Thank you for interest in SMART Recovery. If you have concerns about how a meeting was conducted or if problematic behavior is occurring within our organization we want to become aware of it and address it.

This is for US/Canada meetings only.

The goals of this resolution process are to:

• Establish the context and details of a concern,
• Assist in adhering to policy and procedures set within the organization,
• Identify if additional training/mentoring is needed for all volunteers,
• Identify if additional resources beyond addiction recovery are needed for any individuals involved
• Determine and carry out effective responses if Volunteer Code of Conduct/Behavior Guidelines have been violated, and
• Track and improve upon areas of the organization where consistent dissatisfaction is expressed by participants

Before completing the following form, please consider the following steps (both of which are consistent with “self-management”):

1. Make changes in your own behavior, as a means of eliciting different behavior in the person you are concerned about;
2. Address the issue directly with the person or group you are concerned about, with the goal of reaching a resolution.

If these steps are insufficient or irrelevant, please complete the form found here:

https://tinyurl.com/SRUSAbehavior

Assistant Executive Director Christi Alicea will acknowledge receipt of your email within two business days, request additional information if needed, and estimate a timeframe for resolution.

The resolution process my also involve soliciting the assistance of the Regional Coordinator as part of the resolution.

Please note:

• This is for US/Canada meetings only.
• The National Office will maintain a copy of concerns and outcomes and will provide a summary report to the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis.
• Confidentiality and anonymity will be respected when requested as much as possible, though it might mean inability to pursue the concern if there is no way for you to remain anonymous.
• If an individual wishes to bring a complaint accusing another of misconduct and remain anonymous, SMART’s ability to respond will be limited or in some instances the issue may not be able to be resolved. The resolution process may also involve soliciting the assistance of the Regional Coordinator as part of the resolution.

Further Action

If, after consultation with the Assistant Executive Director, a concern is not resolved to the satisfaction of the parties, any party may appeal the outcome to the Executive Director, within 30 days, by submitting a summary (500 words maximum) of the situation and the requested actions. Similarly, the decision of the Executive Director may be appealed to the President (also using a 500-word summary), and again to the Executive Committee of the Board (also using a 500 word summary).

The Executive Committee is the final arbiter of how to respond to concerns, unless at its own discretion it consults with the full Board of Directors.

In the online community, concerns are responded to by the procedures established by that community, and decisions also may be appealed to the Executive Director, the President, and Executive Committee of the Board.