Our Programs

The New York Intergroup which is a part and parcel of the SIA World Wide structure has been serving the New York and Tristate areas for more than 20 Years.  We began out of the need to initially be supportive to the NY and Tri-state area.  But with the advent of virtual  meetings, we have now been able to provide fellowship and support  and service virtually to the World and all 7 continents.    We like to think of ourselves as SIAMWOB (SIA Meetings With Out Borders).  So remember that you can become a member of our Intergroup no matter what location you are currently at!  

SIA History from the Beginning

One January evening in 1982, at a kitchen table in Baltimore, three women sat together and spoke about the unspeakable: childhood sexual abuse, perpetrated by family members (father, mother, brother-in-law) on each woman decades before. Using the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step recovery model, they admitted to being powerless over their histories, asked for help from a Higher Power so that they might make peace with their past and began to heal and thrive in the present. They began casting off shame and self-blame, living their lives unencumbered by the legacy of abuse. That evening, a new mutual-help, 12-Step program was born: Survivors of Incest Anonymous.

Now — in houses of worship, medical centers and other meeting places located around the country and in a dozen foreign countries — women and men 18 years through their 70s and beyond sit together and speak about the unspeakable: their own reality of childhood sexual abuse. Guided by the 12 suggested Steps of the program, everything said in the meetings and member to member is held in strict confidence. Survivors facilitate the groups; mental health professionals do not work in the meetings, and SIA is not intended to replace therapy or any other professional service when needed.

There is no typical SIA member profile; members are of all racial, ethnic, religious and political backgrounds, with varying marital statuses, sexual orientations, and degrees of ability/disability. The abusers in their lives may be any family member, family friends, clergy, another child or teenager, or anyone who betrayed the child victim’s innocence and trust. We define incest very broadly. Many of those who attend SIA meetings share their struggles with explosive anger, depression, addictions and compulsions, perfectionism, isolation, thoughts of suicide, and troubled relationships with family, spouses/partners, and authority figures. In SIA, we find hope and healing with self-confidence and self-esteem.

Each year, as SIA celebrates its birthday, we look back on an exciting history: a 1984 letter published in “Dear Abby” mentioned SIA and caught the attention of a national audience. Members of SIA made anonymous appearances on the national talk shows of the 1980s and 1990s including “Donahue,” “Geraldo,” “Sallie Jessie Raphael,” and “People Are Talking,” to name a few.

At the core of our 12 Step Program  are our meetings.  Be in person, phone line,  or most commonly , our virtual meetings , SIA NY Intergroup mission focuses on connecting  The meetings are where it begins and fellowship happens.  Service is another area that helps us heal and stay connected.  Staying connected via meetings, service, going to Retreats, and outreach calls are all ways we help each other and feel not alone.  You are NOT ALONE once you decide to join our  fellowship.