Al-Anon's program of recovery is based on the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Steps are the foundation for personal recovery and the Traditions help groups sustain their unity and fellowship.

The Twelve Concepts of Service are guides for service. They show how Twelfth Step work can be done on a broad scale and how members of a World Service Office can relate to each other and to the groups, through a World Service Conference, to spread Al-Anon's message worldwide.

Together, the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts of Service make up Al-Anon/Alateen's Three Legacies.