EAI Home Meeting Guidelines

EAI 12th Step Committee Guidelines for Home Meetings for FA Members

Purpose: An FA Member may receive FA meetings at his/her home since he/she is not able to attend regular FA meetings due to a physical illness.

I.  Assessment of the Need for the Home Meeting

• 12th Step Chair receives a call or email request directly from an FA member to request a home meeting for themselves or someone else. Chair passes request along to coordinator.
• Coordinator contacts member in need of meeting. Member must be working with an FA sponsor and be unable to attend a meeting due to special circumstances.
• The Coordinator will determine if a home meeting is needed by gathering information regarding the member’s physical condition. This determination may be done over the phone and/or by visiting the FA member with another FA member who has at least two years of abstinence and completed an FA AWOL. Some questions to ask include: Is the person able to leave the house for any length of time, able to sit for 1 ½ hours, able to travel long distances. (For instance, if a person can attend Bingo, that person can attend a meeting. If a person can make a visit to someone, then the person can attend a meeting.)
• If a person has severe back problems and is unable to sit in a chair for more than 15 or 20 minutes, that person may be eligible
• If a woman is pregnant and on total bed rest, that person may be eligible.
• If a person is in the hospital, that person may be eligible.
• Remember to ask your Higher Power for help to see what is in the best interest of the person’s recovery. 

II. Coordination and Set Up of the Meeting

• Once it has been determined the FA member is unable to attend the FA meetings, Coordinator contacts the member’s sponsor, sponsee or someone who attends the same meetings who will gather FA members to attend the meeting. Member determines how many meetings will take place.
• A Minimum of two members with 90 days or more of continuous abstinence must be able to attend. Anyone is welcome to attend at the member and sponsor’s discretion.
• There is no 7th Tradition.
• The chairs are set up in whatever way is possible given the space.

III. Meeting Format

• The Home Meeting format can be found on the FA website or obtained from the 12th Step Chair or coordinator.
• Only FA members with 90 days or more of continuous abstinence may share. Anyone may read the tools or part of format as indicated in the format.

Please contact the Twelfth Step Chair by contacting the FA/EAI office at 781-438-9700 or by email at eai12thstep@foodaddicts.org for any questions.

(November 2008) (Revised January 2019)