We provide shared resources for both new as well as established CoDA groups who would like to update or enhance their meetings.*
The tools and best practice ideas within this page have been shared by fellow CoDA members for use by other group meetings. These are only recommendations, as we appreciate the autonomy of the local meetings within CoDA guidelines.
CoDA Texas suggests the following tools for staying connected and building CoDA Community. CoDA brochures are also available for download on the Literature page.
Facilitator and Participants Guides
Enhance Meeting Flow
These guides have been streamlined and updated for better meeting flow and adherence to Coda.org recommendations.
- What’s New PDF
- Facilitator’s Manual PDF
- Participant’s Booklets PDF
- Printing Instructions for Booklets PDF
- Affirmations for Recovery PDF
Local Meeting Support
Foster Community through Service Roles, Group Chat, & Outreach
- Fellowship Service Manual & 12 Service Concepts: Referred to as the FSM. This is the go-to guide for all things CoDA. It is particularly recommended that all meetings have a copy of Part 2 of the FSM.
– Fellowship Service Manual – Parts 1-5
– Twelve Traditions as a Guide to Service Work
– Twelve Service Concepts - Healthy Meetings – Characteristics of healthy CoDA meetings, the obstacles meetings may face as well as ways to address them. Downloadable Booklet
- Meeting Service Roles: Without volunteers, there would be no meeting. Too frequently, just a couple of people try to do it all. Clear service roles help spread the workload and makes space to allow others to honor their 12th step.
– Local Meeting Service Roles & Recommendations PDF - Group Conscience Process: It’s more than just taking a vote. Reflecting on our traditions, we pause to seek out our Higher Power’s will for what’s best for the fellowship and CoDA as a whole. – FSM Pt. 1-sec.3
- Restoring Order – On rare occasions, a meeting may get off track. This may be due to crosstalk, lack of boundaries, and other things. Anyone in a meeting may call for “30 Seconds” and call a “Time Out” for everyone to cease talking and seek guidance from Higher Power. It is always followed by the serenity prayer before resuming the meeting. – FSM Pt. 1-sec.3
- Dealing With Disagreement & Resolving Conflict: Provides guidance for how to deal with disagreements and how to get help when its needed. When there is disagreement among members of the group, it affects the entire fellowship. – Dealing With Disagreements
- Hybrid Meetings – Combining your in-person and virtual meeting
As we transition to meeting in person, many groups would like to allow members to continue to meet virtually as well.
– Setting up a Hybrid Meeting PDF - Group Chat: Bringing your group together – Groups that have made a decision to implement group chat for member support report a stronger sense of fellowship and belonging. Implementing a group chat provides for member support between meetings and an opportunity for enhanced fellowship among members.
– Group Chat Features & Considerations PDF
– Social Media Guidelines PDF - Outreach: A method to attract people to your meeting.
“We do not advertise in the traditional sense in that we do not push for everyone to join CoDA. We let people know we are here, and then we let them decide for themselves if they want to participate.” (FSM pt2 sec2)
– Outreach: Reaching out to Other Codependents Who Suffer - CoDA Structure: How is CoDA Orgainized? It’s not what you might think…
– CoDA Structure Hierarchy PDF - Group Inventory – How can my meeting be even better? Healthy meetings matter. Many groups use the group inventory to see where their group is doing well, as well as discover areas for improvement.
– Group Inventory
Electronic payments*
Accept 7th tradition donations
Electronic payments are now a mainstay in our lives. To accommodate members who may prefer to make 7th tradition donations, h, your local group may decide that it can take advantage of free payment apps such as Venmo, Paypal, or Zelle to receive donations electronically.