Fellowship Group Voting

Group decisions that follow the Traditions and intent have a signature that we learn to recognize as a group conscience (BRB pg 490), The group members trust the collective decision-making process known as group conscience (BRB pg 492)

For more information on how to obtain a group conscience, see Group Voting and Substantial Unanimity- Twelfth Concept

The voting results will be reported on the adultchildren.org website within two weeks after the close of voting. Discussion of the Fellowship Group Voting results and next steps will be requested to be added to the agenda for the 2026 Annual Business Conference. (ABC)

If the vote passes, a fiscally responsible implementation plan will be developed for delegates to review at the 2026 ABC. The current estimates are considered sufficient for planning at this stage and would be incorporated into annual budget planning if the motion is approved.

From the Name Study survey, it is estimated that implementing a new name could take five years or more. The process would involve both legal and publishing expenses. Current projections estimate the cost at approximately $24,000 annually over five years, or $120,000 total.

The voting results and next steps will be added to the 2026 ABC agenda.

The voting results will be reported on the adultchildren.org website within two weeks after the close of voting. Discussion of the Fellowship Group Voting results will be requested to be added to the agenda for the 2026 Annual Business Conference. (ABC)

A Fellowship Group vote happens when the delegates at the conference believe the change being considered is significant enough to require all registered groups to vote directly. The ballot proposal voting allows the fellowship to determine whether a proposal is added to the Annual Business Conference (ABC) agenda for discussion and voting by the delegates.

If your group does not agree with the proposed name then your group would vote no and has the option to provide a brief answer on their reason. This will assist the delegates when discussing at an up and coming ABC/QDM.

Yes, we have different variations of the proposed name, “Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families (ACAD)”. This motion would create consistency throughout our literature and website.

Examples:
Website: “Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families World Service Organization”.

Literature: Adult Children of Alcoholics/ Dysfunctional Families , Adult Children of Alcoholics/ Dysfunctional Families World Service Organization, Inc.

Legal Name won’t change: Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization, Inc. (ACA WSO, ACA WSO, Inc)

Yes, the survey reported 39 different names.Members were passionate about their “name” choices. A couple of groups requesting “Adult Children Anonymous” felt strongly their choice was not considered fairly but no one spoke on this concern at the 2024 ABC. It had been decided in collaboration with the Data Analysis Committee, that it was necessary to limit the choices when the goal is to get to a single choice that can be presented to the delegates to consider.

What about Adult Children Anonymous? Why was it not included on the 1st Survey 

• Adult Children Anonymous was not included as a listed choice in the first survey because the purpose of the committee, as set out from the 2022 ABC delegates, was to communicate inclusion of dysfunctional families.
• The genesis of the name study was to address the problem that some adult children disqualified themselves after simply hearing the name because they came from a dysfunctional, but not a family with alcoholism. These adult children never made it to a meeting or the website where this notion might have been dispelled. Consequently, the study was undertaken to find a name that would communicate inclusion to someone from a dysfunctional but not an alcoholic family by simply hearing the name without any further explanation. 
• The committee discussed the Adult Children Anonymous name 4 times over an 8+ month period with different members present at each discussion and the group conscience always came to the same conclusion. The addition of anonymous indicates it is a 12 step program, but the removal of all other descriptive information that might explain what adult children are, does not communicate inclusion of those coming from dysfunctional families or alcoholic families. Consequently, the potential newcomer would need to understand the adult child concept or do research on what adult child means in this context in order to truly understand the Adult Children Anonymous name. Name StudyWhat about Adult Children Anonymous? Why was it not included on the 1st Survey
• It is understandable some very much wanted Adult Children Anonymous because it preserved the ACA acronym and assumed the newcomer can just do some research on what an “adult child” means. However, the potential newcomers that already disqualify themselves have shown they don’t do research such as check the literature or go to the website. This is because adult children tend to be rigid thinkers and have been quickly disqualifying themselves their whole lives.
• The purpose of the name study was to find a name that would communicate this inclusion to the potential new member, because if they don’t disqualify themselves by hearing the name, that gives them the best chance to take the next step on their road to recovery. 
• Each group conscience concluded that Adult Children Anonymous did not address the newcomer disqualification problem (described previously) nor did it meet the purpose set by the delegates to communicate inclusion. Consequently, Adult Children Anonymous was not included on the surveys. Name StudyWhat about Adult Children Anonymous? Why was it not included on the 1st Survey Name Study
• Adult Children Anonymous did receive some write in votes on the first survey, but they only amounted to 2.53% of all respondents.
• We Are Group of volunteers who gave our time to do our best to follow the traditions of the fellowship. 
• We Cannot Please everyone. And some members have let us know that quite strongly.  We ask everyone to show courtesy to the all of the Name Study Team that has diligently worked for the last 2 year.

Appendix C, Our Fellowship Name: “ACA is the original adult-child fellowship and the first to develop a Twelve Step program and specific literature addressing the effects of being raised in a dysfunctional home.” Read more, BRB pg 645-646,

No. The Name Study was authorized to explore changing the ACA name, ABC Motion 2022-1. This committee conducted 2 surveys with 11,000 individual members representing 68 countries and 10 languages in the last 2 years. The groups have not voted on changing the name of the fellowship until now.

No, the Data Analysis Committee were consulted on the surveys. This committee was created from a previous ABC motion.