PI & H&I

This page last edited on Sunday, May 23, 2004

PI and the H&I Committee

The Public Information and the Hospitals & Institutions committees are of great importance to the Fellowship. Both serve the Fellowship to reach the still suffering addict by presenting the NA message in different forums. The PI committee “reaches out” to the addict through public forums while the H&I Committee “reaches in” by facilitating presentation panels to addicts in hospitals and other institutions who do not have full access to regular Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

There are situations when these two committees’ purpose and method will come together for a common project to serve the Fellowship. This can be best accomplished by cooperative efforts for shared communications and shared presentations.

Examples:
* A hospital calls for a presentation to their doctors and nurses.
* A treatment center calls for a presentation to their staff and clients.
* H&I subcommittee reports communication problems with staff at a prison. The staff has misunderstandings about what NA is about.

If a PI subcommittee doesn’t exist in an area or region, H&I subcommittees may take on many of the responsibilities generally performed by PI subcommittees. Ask your ASC/RSC for support and information. If there isn’t a PI subcommittee in your area or region, start one.

Generally, a PI activity is geared to people outside our fellowship and includes people who come in contact with addicts and can help addicts to find NA. The approach with non-addicts differs from the more personal sharing appropriate to talks given to addicts.

However the PI subcommittee may make presentations to clients of an out-patient facility as the purpose of H&I is to bring the message to addicts that do not have access to regular NA meetings. Clients of out-patient programs do have access to regular meetings hence the H&I committee may choose not to facilitate a panel in that facility.

Common Guidelines for H&I Committees
All H&I committees (regional, and area) should remain in frequent contact with their counterparts in PI.

Whenever possible, a liaison should be selected by the H&I committee to attend any PI meetings held within their area or region, so that a spirit of cooperation can be fostered which will better enable us to carry out our primary purpose.

The purpose of an H&I meeting is to carry the NA message of recovery to addicts in hospitals or other institutions who do not have full access to regular Narcotics Anonymous meetings. H&I Panels, except for those in long-term facilities, are intended to simply introduce those attending to some of the basics of the NA program.

When NA members or groups recognize the need for an H&I meeting at a facility, the local H&I committee should be contacted. H&I meetings are a function of the H&I subcommittee. Individuals should not take it upon themselves to do H&I work. Groups should only do it in places where an area H&I committee hasn’t been formed yet and seek guidance from their regional H&I committee.

For a more comprehensive look at Hospitals and Institutions service work, read the Hospitals & Institutions Handbook, which is available from the World Service Office.

Suggestions for PI Committee Cooperation
PI subcommittees should always check with the H&I subcommittee before making initial contact with any H&I type facility. These facilities are usually one of the following: hospital, methadone clinic, jail, prison, detoxification center, or drug treatment facility program. This Contact with the H&I subcommittee will determine whether H&I services are already being provided and if not, whether H&I is able to provide them if requested.

PI presentations are simply an information giving activity—whom and what NA is. We do not give in-service training on addiction or drug abuse. Whenever making a presentation, PI members should have the name of an H&I contact to supply to the facility if it becomes apparent that an H&I meeting is requested or required. Do not commit H&I services. Refer requests for H&I services to the proper H&I subcommittee.

Next: Cooperation between PI and H&I

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