Someone’s Al-Anon journey often begins when they reach out to the World Service Office (WSO) toll-free meeting line at 1-888-4AL-ANON (1-888-425-2666). Here, they can speak with a phone agent Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm ET to get meeting information and, if available, the contact for a specific meeting. This personal connection can help ease concerns and encourage newcomers to walk into their first meeting.
Contacts for the Public play a vital role in Al-Anon’s outreach. They can help answer questions and provide a welcoming presence. For many newcomers, being able to speak to a live person before attending a meeting makes the experience less intimidating.
Serving as Contact for the Public is Twelfth Step work. It allows members to extend hope and support to those seeking help. While offering this connection, it’s essential to respect Al-Anon’s tradition of anonymity by not posting member’s names or phone numbers on public-facing websites. (Please refer to “Phone Contact for the Public” in the “Al‑Anon and Alateen Groups at Work” section of the Al‑Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P‑24/27) for further guidance.)
Groups are encouraged to designate a Contact for the Public in their group record so WSO meeting line agents can share that information with callers. You can add one using the Group Change Form. Visit Group Records and select the appropriate type of group, then follow the prompts.
Regardless of how newcomers arrive at their first Al-Anon meeting, they need to know which room in the building will hold the meeting or how to sign in if the meeting is held electronically. Clear signage and a warm greeter can make the interaction welcoming and encouraging. Contacts for the Public are the friendly voices and faces that encourage the newcomer to “Keep Coming Back.”
The Forum, January 2026
“Inside Al‑Anon Family Groups” presents news, policy, and commentary from volunteers, staff and readers sharing experience through service. Please feel free to reprint these articles on your service structure website or newsletter, along with this credit line: Reprinted with permission of Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
The WSO meeting line agent is a paid WSO staff member, hired for any number of WSO roles that also includes answering the Toll-Free Meeting-Line. Please visit: https://al-anon.org/employment-at-al-anon/ to see if you have qualifications for open positions. If working at the WSO is not quite what you had in mind, responding to phone inquiries seeking meeting or program information can take place at your local Al-Anon Information Service (AIS/Intergroup). Inquire at any in-person Al-Anon meeting you attend about contact information for the AIS nearest to you. We hope this is helpful!
Would love to serve as a WSO “line agent” vs local/group level. Any actual info re this would be appreciated.
Long time member
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