How can I find an AA meeting through SFV AA?

Updated

To find an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting through SFV AA, go to sfvaa.org and use the Find A Meeting / Search Meetings feature. The site is run by the San Fernando Valley Alcoholics Anonymous Central Office, so its meeting listings cover the San Fernando Valley area and surrounding communities. If you can't find what you need online, call the 24-hour helpline at 818-988-3001, which the site says is available anytime, day or night.

What SFV AA is

SFV AA is the San Fernando Valley Alcoholics Anonymous Central Office. Its stated mission is to support carrying the message of Alcoholics Anonymous to the still-suffering alcoholic by providing information, literature, and other services to A.A. members, groups, and others throughout the San Fernando Valley and surrounding communities.

The site is organized around a few main tasks:

  • Find A Meeting — search AA meetings in the area
  • Browse Literature — AA literature
  • What Is AA? — background on Alcoholics Anonymous, including a "20 Questions" self-check ("Take the 20 Questions") for people wondering whether AA is right for them
  • Special Events — Central Office events, with an option to subscribe to the newsletter
  • Volunteer and Contribute — ways to get involved or support the Central Office

How to search for a meeting

  1. Go to sfvaa.org.
  2. Select Find A Meeting (the site also labels this Search AA meetings / Search Meetings).
  3. Search or browse the listings for the San Fernando Valley area and surrounding communities.

Before you search, it helps to have a few details ready so you can narrow results quickly:

What to have ready Why it helps
Your location or nearby city Limits results to meetings you can realistically get to
Day(s) you're free Filters out meetings that don't fit your schedule
Time of day Narrows the list further
Any format preference Helps you pick among the meetings that remain

The site does not document the exact filter options or menu layout of the meeting search, so treat the fields above as general search inputs rather than a guaranteed list of filters. The expected result is a set of meeting listings you can use to choose one to attend.

If the online search doesn't work for you

Call the 24-Hour Helpline at 818-988-3001. The site states it is available anytime, day or night, which makes it the practical fallback when you can't find a suitable listing online or need to confirm details.

You can also email [email protected]; the site says replies usually come within a day. The contact form on the site is described as anonymous and confidential.

Other things you can do on the site

  • Check whether AA is for you: the "20 Questions" page is framed as a self-assessment — the site notes that only you can decide whether you want to give AA a try.
  • Read AA literature: use Browse Literature.
  • Stay current: subscribe to the newsletter for updates from the Central Office, and check Special Events for upcoming events.
  • Get involved: volunteer with SFV AA or contribute to the Central Office.

Common sticking points

  • Searching too broadly: if you get too many results, add your day and time to narrow the list.
  • Assuming the site covers everywhere: the Central Office serves the San Fernando Valley and surrounding communities, so if you're outside that area, the helpline is the better first contact.
  • Needing an answer right away: the meeting search is self-service, but the phone line is staffed around the clock per the site, so use it when you need a live response.

The Central Office is located at 16134 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91406.