Skip to content
12 Step National Meetings

How to Start, Register and List a Families Anonymous Meeting

All startup guides · Find Families Anonymous meetings

U.S. first · Official sources reviewed October 24, 2026

No meeting listed near you? Check the official program’s existing meetings first: our independent directory may not include every active group. If there is still a gap, use the program-specific route below.

1. Begin with the right people and official resources

Use Families Anonymous’ Starting a New Group resources. The official page offers a free Starter Kit through the World Service Office and help from the Group Outreach committee. Its linked materials cover starting and sustaining a group and the secretary’s responsibilities. Official startup resources.

2. Plan the meeting with the appropriate support

With the organizing members, choose a recurring day, start and end time, time zone, language and attendance format. Confirm venue permission, room access, accessibility and costs before advertising a physical address. For an online meeting, choose a host and backup, test the platform and discuss admission controls and privacy.

These planning suggestions help you prepare questions and share responsibilities. They do not replace the organization’s rules. Choose a reliable organizer contact and a backup so enquiries and changes are handled when one person is unavailable.

3. Register or request an official listing

Follow the New Group Registration link on the official startup page. Prepare the group name, public meeting details and consenting contacts, and ask the WSO or relevant national service board which local directories also need your information. Official registration or contact route.

4. List the established meeting on this website

Use Submit a Meeting and choose Families Anonymous. The directory’s review is separate from official registration and does not create an affiliation or approval. Follow the checklist below.

Important details for this program

Families Anonymous serves relatives and friends affected by another person’s drug, alcohol or related behavioral problems. Its FA abbreviation is shared with Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous; always spell out the name in announcements.

Directory submission checklist

  1. Open Submit a Meeting. It is free, requires no account and sends information for review before publication.
  2. Enter the meeting name, fellowship, day and start time; select the relevant format and attendance type. Supply the public venue address or the meeting link requested for a virtual meeting, plus the location fields shown.
  3. Use a group contact email if available. The separate submitter email is optional and marked private. Do not publish personal home addresses or private contact details.
  4. Read the submission guidelines, confirm the acknowledgment and select Submit Meeting for Review.

Choose the meeting’s Time Zone in the submission form. Enter the local End Time and First Meeting Date if known, and add the organizer’s public meeting page in Official Source URL. Leave optional details blank if unknown; new groups without a public page can request moderator review. Never put a time zone into the street-address field or invent a physical address for an online meeting. If the location fields do not fit, use the site contact page for help. Do not include private access credentials.

Only provide a joining link the organizers have agreed to publish. If a link is restricted or registration is required, contact the directory about using the organizer’s public information or registration page instead. Do not send passwords, screening answers or confidential access instructions through a public listing field.

This directory’s review is separate from fellowship registration and does not establish official recognition. Tell both the official service office and this site when details change or a meeting closes.

5. Keep records and listings current

Agree who will maintain the organization’s records, any local meeting schedule and this directory. Recheck public information after a change of venue, host or service contact, and report a suspension or closure promptly. Publish only information the organizers have agreed to share; never publish participant identities or private access details.

Outside the United States

For groups outside the United States, use the same official resource to find the appropriate country or regional service contact. Ask which local process applies; U.S. requirements and forms should not be assumed to apply worldwide.

12 Step National Meetings is an independent directory. Official program requirements take precedence over these editorial planning suggestions. A listing does not establish endorsement, organizer certification or clinical accreditation.