Why should parents be careful about letting their teens associate with AA members from the Santa Clarita Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous?

The Santa Clarita Valley (SVC) Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous is located at 26951 Ruether Ave., Suite B-6, Santa Clarita, CA 91351 and acts as the central focal point of Alcoholics Anonymous claiming no control over the events they coordinate, promote and advertise in that area of Los Angeles County (http://www.aascv.org/). Alcoholics Anonymous actively recruits from jails and prison for members under their "Correction Committees", from mental institutions under their "Hospital & Institution" (H&I) committees and from the probation, parole and court systems under their "Cooperation with the Professional Community" (CPC) committees. The members of AA will tell you that the majority of the members do not come from these outlets and through the last survey they published, which only polled around 7,000 members, only 11% of the members came from these outlets. Depending upon outside sources this number is actually between 45-55%.

Why should this be important information for parents to know if they allow their children to go to AA meetings, Al-Anon or Alateen in Santa Clarita Valley (SVC)? The simple reason is because this particular Intergroup co-mingles Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon and Alateen members and if a teen is attacked physically, financially or sexually they will be made to blame for the attack. Use Google and find the physical, financial or sexual attacks in Alcoholics Anonymous and you will find that the Victim is almost always made to be the reason for the attack and the AA Intergroup or group will be called blameless and they will blame your teen. You and your teen will be told repeatedly that your teen was at fault and that you can't hold the people holding the event responsible for what happened. Here is an example that happens every year that co-mingles all three groups that happened this year, luckily without any incidents that are known and reported.

Santa Clarita Valley Alcoholics Anonymous Convention - Annual Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) event with Al-Anon & Alateen participation. 9th Annual. October 19, 20, & 21, 2012. Hyatt Valencia & Santa Clarita Conference Center. 24500 Town Center Drive. Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, California.

Website: http://www.scvaaconvention.org/

Why is co-mingling of these groups dangerous? Here are the requirements for Sponsorship in Alateen:

Sponsor Requirements
Sponsors must:
1. Be Al-Anon members
2. Be 21 years old
3. Have two years in Al-Anon (in addition to time in Alateen)
4. Not have been convicted of a felony
5. Not have been charged with child abuse or similar
6. Not have demonstrated emotional problems that could result in harm to a teen
7. Not be under investigation by child welfare or similar agency

Source: http://www.ncwsa.org/wp-content/library/pages/alateen/Alateen%20Requirem...

Very few of the AA members that are co-mingling with the Al-Anon and Alateen members would pass these requirements.

As proof that your teen will be blamed as the victim, look at the Karla Brada case that resides in the same area and Alcoholics Anonymous Intergroup. While Karla was an adult, the results will be the same for your teen.... Please protect your children from this abuse, don't let AA blame your teen if they are a victim in the Santa Clarita Intergroup in Los Angeles County, California like what is happening to Karla Brada.

Karla Brada, 31 [Updated]

Died Sept. 1, 2011

Karla Brada, a 31-year-old white woman, died Thursday, Sept. 1, in the 20700 block of Plum Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Brada's boyfriend said he found her unresponsive Thursday morning, according to a Sheriff's Department news release. The boyfriend contacted authorities, who arrived and pronounced the woman dead.

Coroner's records show Brada had some trauma to her body, but a final cause of death has been deferred pending additional laboratory tests.

Sheriff's homicide Det. Ray Lugo, who is handling the case, said Brada's boyfriend is a suspect in the death. He was arrested but had to be released while detectives gather more evidence for the homicide investigation, Lugo said.

[Update Jan. 12, 2012: Coroner's officials later determined that Brada died from asphyxia and her death was deemed a homicide.]

[Update Jan. 26, 2012: Brada’s boyfriend, Eric Allen Earle, a 40-year-old white man, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the victim’s death, Det. Lugo said.

Earle was apprehended in Northridge by the U.S. Marshal Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force. He is currently being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the inmate reception center in downtown.

Lugo said Earle will be charged with one count of murder.

According to investigators, Earle has a history of domestic violence against women. In August 2011, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting Brada, however she decided to not move forward with the case and authorities were unable to prosecute him.

Lugo said Earle and Brada had been dating for two months before she was killed. At the time of the incident, they were living together, he said.

In a statement sent to the Times, Brada’s mother said about the arrest, “This is a big relief for not only Karla's family, but several other families who have felt threatened by Eric's release since he has a long history of domestic violence against other women. Unfortunately, we did not learn about his history of domestic violence until Karla's death. It is too late for Karla and her family, but we hope putting him away for good will save another family from this tragedy and pain.”

Anyone with additional information about the death of Karla Brada is asked to contact Det. Lugo at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.]

Follow the Homicide Report on Twitter @latimeshomicide.

Updated: Jan. 26, 2012 at 2:58 p.m.

Source: http://projects.latimes.com/homicide/post/karla-brada/

Again, use Google and find the comments people are saying about this death and read how the AA members are blaming the victim. It is something that could happen to your teen if you let them anywhere near Alcoholics Anonymous in Los Angeles County and especially the Santa Clarita Intergroup.