[1] was among its co-founders and is the author of The Laundry List,[2][3] 12 steps for adult children of alcoholics (known as "Tony A's 12 Steps")[4], The Problem,[5] which are all published in his book, The Laundry List: The ACOA Experience (co-authored with Dan F.)[6] The organization's name is often ascribed to Janet G. Woititz (c. 1939 – June 7, 1994), an American psychologist and researcher best known for her writings and lectures on the adult children of alcoholic parents, and author of the 1983 book Adult Children of Alcoholics.
[11] After being asked to speak on his experiences in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Al-Anon to this group, Tony A. joined as a member.
[11] In 1978 Tony A. wrote The Laundry List[3][2] (the 14 characteristics of adult children) and the Solution and shared it with his Generations group.
[11] Members of "Generations" expressed discomfort with the AA steps around this time and also declined an offer to become an official Al-Anon group in the 1980s.
[18] "The vast majority of ACAs meet[19] informally, in school classrooms or church halls, in the evenings or over weekends.
They meet in leaderless groups, pooling their resources of experience and insight, and reading relevant literature to deepen those assets.
The group further provides practical help in acquiring everyday interpersonal and coping skills, and, with them, the sense of self-efficacy—a basic need, as Peele says.
'"[20] From the ACA fellowship text (also known as "The Big Red Book"):[21] "By attending these meetings[19] on a regular basis, you will come to see parental alcoholism or family dysfunction for what it is: a disease that infected you as a child and continues to affect you as an adult.
It aims to build oneself up, assumes personal responsibility by unequivocally standing up for one's right to a healthy life and actively works on the changes necessary to achieving it.
The collective stance is not to wallow in "being a victim" but to move into the practical application of seeing family dysfunction as a generational affliction and a pattern that can be healed.
Through fellowship and the support of ACA's sponsors and peers, as well as the literature, members come to learn that even the most wounded of them has an inner child worthy of love and healing.