F.E.A.S.T. Newsletter

January, 2012

F.E.A.S.T. Symposium a Success

 

The Map Ahead symposium was a RESOUNDING SUCCESS.

The symposium brought 139 very motivated and focused people together for two days in Alexandria, Virginia. Over 95 additional people tuned in online.  There were 25 people on the program as speakers or moderators and dozens more submitted questions for speakers. During the symposium, there were four sit-down meals, four lively snack breaks, and two group dinners on the town in Alexandria, one fantastic Learning Room filled with information, and even an impromptu silk screening shop. Families had the opportunity to meet and share there experiences with each other.  One parent said, "...talking one on one with others who understand what we are going through and supporting us was uplifting and hopeful."


The symposium included a Who's Who of thinkers in the eating disorder and mental health field on topics of great interest to the parent community. As one participant indicated, the symposium included a  "...diverse rich experience of professional, educational, personal and empowerment in the program..." 
The entire event was filmed by student volunteers from American University who will be producing video and photographs of the event for the F.E.A.S.T. website. Volunteers from all over the world who had not ever met came together to creatively, generously, and often invisibly make all the complex parts of such an event work, and work well.

Unique to this symposium was that it was convened without sponsors. Having no marketing or advertising was important to promote an environment for the parenting community to come together, listen and speak up. All of our participants', including speakers', registration and expenses were paid for by an individual - speakers either paid for themselves or an individual made a specific donation to cover them.

 

Feedback on the symposium was overwhelmingly positive. Average responses across questions on a post-event survey were above 4 (on a scale of 1: strongly disagree to 5: strongly agree). One participant summed up the symposium by saying, "I loved the atmosphere of the whole event.  It felt like a place where real change would begin, a source of hope for a better future for the treatment of eating disorders."  

Ratings on a post-event evaluation
F.E.A.S.T. News

 

 

Help Update the F.E.A.S.T. Recipe Book

 
We're updating, renewing, and republishing the popular F.E.A.S.T. recipe book!  We need your recipes, NOW - your delicious family favorites, your nourishing and healing foods. Share them with the world - and help other families as they restore normal nutrition in their loved ones with anorexia and bulimia and binge eating disorder.

Please help us fill this book with food, and fill families with hope and a bit of your personal flavor!

 

New Board and Advisory Panel Members

 

We would like to welcome and introduce two new Board Members:

 

  • Raye-Ann de Regnier 
  • Mary Gutteridge  

 

 We also are very proud to announce five new members of our Advisory Panel: 

 

 

New on the Website 

 

We are grateful to Hannah, a young woman in the US, for her essay, Who am I - a recovery essay.

 

 

Many thanks to F.E.A.S.T. Advisory Panel member, Therese Waterhous PhD, lead author of the latest Practice Paper of the American Dietetic Association: Nutrition Intervention in the Treatment of Eating Disordersfor securing ADA permission to reprint the paper on the F.E.A.S.T. site.

 

 

UK Task Force News

 

UK task force members represented F.E.A.S.T on both carers' and service users' expert patient panels and has a representative on the planning committee for the Eating Disorders International Conference in London in 2012. 

 

Many task force members were glued to the livestream watching the F.E.A.S.T. Symposium. Rachel and her sister actually attended and made us very proud when they spoke. The Symposium was a great spur to work already going on, in particular to outreach to educational, Primary Care and Paediatric professionals. Helen Missen has been active in Wales both within schools and in planning training for GPs. Mel Stevenson is hoping to do similar work with GPs in Scotland. Our Secretary, Charlotte Bevan, took delivery of ten boxes of the AED guide for distribution around the whole country and already has orders from Dorset and London where she will be presenting at the Institute of Psychiatry Carers' Day. A fairly large party of F.E.A.S.T. joined her for this event. For the New Year we look forward to more opportunities to spread information about early identification and treatment and evidence-based care. We also will be continuing to work with eating disorder services and charity members.  We would particularly like to attend events outside the"ED world" and have plans (finances permitting) to have a presence at Paediatric and General Practice conferences. On an even grander scale we are working to plan a F.E.A.S.T UK Symposium for 2012 entitled "There's no place like home."

 

Australian Task Force News

Task force members Bridget Bonnin, her husband Tim Wood and June Alexander participated in the F.E.A.S.T. Symposium in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia in November. June Alexander has been busy over the past few months presenting and continuing her advocacy work. Recent presentations include: 'Hope at Every Age' at 2011 NEDA Conference, Hollywood, California (U.S.) with Renee Hoste and a presentation provided to a private girls' school in Melborne on eating disorders and body image. She also is co-writing an update of her popular book Anorexia Nervosa, a Survival Guide for Parents, Friends and Sufferers with Janet Treasure. Another task force member, Amanda Webster, has written a book about her family's story. Her eldest son developed Anorexia when he was 11 years old. The book will be published by Text Publishing in July 2012.    

 

 

Eating Disorders Guide to Medical Management Now Available

By Mary Beth Krohel

 

The F.E.A.S.T. Medical Education Task Force has been closely collaborating with the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) to distribute the new Eating Disorders Guide to Medical Management. The guide was developed by the Medical Care Standards Task Force (MCSTF) of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED).

 

The guide has been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association, the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine. The document was developed and reviewed by an international multidisciplinary group, which included family members of individuals with an eating disorder and other key advocates, with the intent to enhance early recognition by front line professionals and improve the quality of the initial assessment and medical management of individuals with eating disorders. The primary goal is to decrease the heightened morbidity and mortality that can occur as a result of delays in diagnosis and implementation of appropriate and timely intervention. The guide highlights critical areas relevant to diagnostic assessment and management for primary care clinicians and other health care professionals potentially caring for a patient with an eating disorder.

 

The booklet was launched at the 2011 International Conference on Eating Disorders of the AED in Miami. It has been distributed at meetings held by MEDA, NEDA, the American Psychological Association, and Renfrew. Approximately 1,000 copies were handed out at the F.E.A.S.T. exhibit booth at the American Academy of Pediatrics conference this fall in Boston. Laura Collins, Executive Director of F.E.A.S.T., observed first-hand how hundreds of pediatricians responded to the booklet. "These front-line professionals were eager to educate themselves on the topic and many lamented that they only wish they had the brochure earlier. This is an important, useful document." An additional 1,000 copies were mailed directly to hospitals and medical schools following the meeting.  In addition, approximately 10,000 copies were distributed by F.E.A.S.T. throughout the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. during and following the FE.A.S.T Symposium in November.

 

The F.E.A.S.T. Task Force is making plans to assist the AED with distribution at the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine conference in March 2012 in New Orleans and at the American College of Emergency Physicians in Denver in October 2012. In addition, the Task Force is exploring ideas to distribute this brochure through insurance companies and university health systems.

 

The Task Force is seeking your help with distribution from organizations around the world, including from the AED Sister Organizations. The guide can be viewed at or downloaded from the  AED  website.  Suggestions for distribution would be greatly appreciated. Copies in quantities of 50-250 or more are available for health professional schools, residency and other clinical training programs, international or regional health professional meetings, advocacy organizations and treatment providers upon request. Please send your requests to Annie Cox at: [email protected] with "AED Guide" in the subject line. Let us know how many copies you need and the mailing address to be shipped to.

 

Generous advocates have provided funding for printing and distribution of 44,000 copies of the booklet free of charge. Donations to support ongoing printing and distribution are encouraged and welcomed. If you would like to make a donation, please send a check made payable to: Academy for Eating Disorders, write "MCSTF" in the memo line and mail your check to:

 

Academy for Eating Disorders

111 Deer Lake Road, Suite 100

Deerfield, IL 60015

Attn: Annie Cox

 

Future endeavors include contributing to the development of a Continuing Medical Education (CME) product that will be made available for physicians and other health care professionals around the globe. This CME video will be available at the  AMA website.

 

 

 

Quotes from the Homefront 
 

The F.E.A.S.T. website team has just published a new tool for parents seeking help caring for an eating disorder patient. Hall of Fame posts helps parents new to the Around the Dinner Table forum find the topics and posts most relevant to their situation, and consistently most meaningful for longtime members. This Hall of Fame offers a crash course in the science, the treatment, and the parental stance that distinguishes the F.E.A.S.T. community.  Here are a few posts shared by parents recently:

 

"I just stumbled upon a photo of the morning glory muffins I made when we finally decided to tackle the fear foods, and discovered we gave them to my daughter exactly six months ago. I remember how terrifying it was to get to that point for me and my husband and how hard it was for my daughter to eat them. Now we have tackled most of her fear foods, and while they are still not easy, they are not scary. "- gobsmacked

 

"ED is like a 3 year old, you stay firm and you use a monotone voice that means business, " leave the kitchen, I will not discuss food with you, food is your medicine." And then you will be thinking, whoa, I'm strong!" -Perdido

 

Newletter has New Look newspaper
 
The F.E.A.S.T. newsletter has a new look and a new editor: Jennifer Whisman, a member of our Board of Directors. Please feel free to send items for upcoming newsletters and feedback to: [email protected]
logo
From the Executive Director's Desk
  

Laura Collins, F.E.A.S.T

 

The beginning of a New Year is always a good time for reflection and this year for F.E.A.S.T. has plenty to consider. We started 2011 with a greater focus on local connections and that has been fruitful: local Coffee Break groups have developed and grown, parents have met in person at larger events, and of course the F.E.A.S.T. Symposium was both an in-person and online success.

 

Here's why it matter: the patients. There is no use in advocacy work that promotes empty slogans, fundraises for its own survival, and positions itself rather than brings about change. I see change happening in a big way due to our work. I see policies changing, attitudes shifting, and parents being brought into the larger conversation - but none of this is important unless actual patients are getting better as a result.

 

I can happily report that this is what I'm hearing as we move into 2012. The holiday greetings I receive as head of F.E.A.S.T. are filled with proud reports of patients recovering and families healing. I hear from more and more families saying they took action they would not have taken, they acted faster and with more confidence, they identified and worked with better providers, discovered more and better information, and want to share their well-deserved pride in a loved one who is successfully moving forward out of their eating disorder and onto a healthy and fully-engaged life.

 

Not all the reports are happy ones. The F.E.A.S.T. community lost precious loved ones this year as well. These losses are difficult to accept but cannot be ignored: it is our responsibility to honor and comfort families regardless of the illness outcome. We hold the gravity of this illness in everything we do in fighting for families.

 

Also at the end of the year we take time to express gratitude for the work of treatment providers and researchers in the eating disorder field who are supporting and including families in their care of patients. The skills and incredibly hard work of clinicians who pursue evidence-based care and include and support families is so vital, and so appreciated.


 

 

 

Dear F.E.A.S.T. Member:

Thank you! You are receiving this newsletter because you are one of our 1244 members: families, clinicians, patients, and organizations from 25 countries including 12 Founding Members and 116 Supporting Members. We depend on you and appreciate your continuing support and interest in F.E.A.S.T. (Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders).
 

 

Upcoming Events
 

2012 MEDA Conference

 

 

MEDA's 17th National Conference, Inspiring Improved Eating Disorder Care: Translating Theory into Practice will take place Friday, May 18th and Saturday, May 19th 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel in Needham, Massachusetts. The 2012 MEDA Conference will explore in detail the most recent knowledge related to the field of eating disorders. Specifically the conference will focus upon complicated medical, psychological, nutritional, social and cultural attributes often seen in eating disorder cases. Each workshop will build upon what is known in the field and will focus specifically on ways that care can be improved across the spectrum. Exhibitor, sponsorship, and registration information will be available on web. For more information, contact Kristin Tyman at 617-558-1881 x12 or [email protected].

 

Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2012

 

 

MEDA in sponsorship with Wellesley College will be holding a Panel of Recovery during Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The panel will include individuals of various backgrounds who are recovered from an eating disorder or are loved ones of a recovered person. They will share their personal stories in an effort to promote awareness, hope, education, and prevention efforts. Look for more details on our website. Please contact Katie Heimer 617-558-1881 x15 or k[email protected] for more information.

 

AED and Hope Network's

1 Family $1 Drive for Eating Disorders Research

 

 

Becky Henry, author of Just Tell Her To Stop: Family Stories of Eating Disorders and founder of the Hope Network for Eating Disorders, has launched a 1 Family $1 Drive for Eating Disorders Research. 1 Family $1 Drive seeks to galvanize the families of people with eating disorders to support eating disorders research, similar to the impact achieved by families of those with breast cancer and autism. The funds will go to support the AED Eating Disorders Research Grants and Scholarship Program. For more information visit Facebook or contact Becky Henry: [email protected].

F.E.A.S.T. Advisor News

 

Stephanie B. Milstein, Ph.D was a co-emcee the inaugural F.E.A.S.T symposium with Carrie Arnold, was on the planning committee for the conference and co-hosted the poster competition with Jennifer Whisman. 
 
Jenni Schafer presented at two IAEDP fundraiser events in Arizona on December 3rd and at Center for Change Family Week in Utah on December 9th.  
 
Dr. Thomas Silber was guest editor on an issue of Adolescent Medicine State of the Art Reviews (AMSTAR), published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, entitled " Ethical and Legal Issues in Adolescent health Care." One chapter deals with anorexia: Silber, TJ: Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa against the Patient's Will: Ethical Considerations. AMSTAR 2011;22:283-288.
  

F.E.A.S.T. Treatment Provider List Changes

By Laura Collins,

Executive Director

 

F.E.A.S.T. has provided a treatment provider list on the website since our beginning in 2008. As 2011 ends, so will the list.


 
F.E.A.S.T.'s Executive Director, Laura Collins, said the Board of Directors made this decision because, "We feel there are far more resources out there for parents to search for treatment providers and want to empower parents to choose wisely, rather than maintain a list."
  

The provider list has had a long history and several formats over the years, originating in a short list of Family-Based Maudsley providers in the back of Collins' book published in 2004.

"At the time it was difficult for parents to identify providers who offered evidence-based treatments. Now, there are so many that parents have to do their homework to evaluate which providers are simply using terms like "family-based" and "Maudsley" as a marketing term and are not really trained or knowledgeable. It is not possible for F.E.A.S.T. to research and evaluate individual providers so we are now focused on educating parents to make those judgments on their own."

Although the Treatment Provider Directory will go offline January 1, 2012, we still provide a

provider feedback forum for parents. This forum, which is only available to registered forum members, allows families to share their experience with particular clinics or providers.

 

 

  

Stay in Touch 

 

HUNGRY FOR F.E.A.S.T. NEWS BETWEEN NEWSLETTERS?

Read and subscribe to our news blog.

 

PARCHED FOR INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGMENT?

Read and subscribe to our daily blog of parent insights and hope. 

 

 

F.E.A.S.T.

Families Empowered And Supporting

Treatment of Eating Disorders

P.O. Box 331 Warrenton, Virginia 20188 USA

(540) 227-8518      feast-ed.org       [email protected]