The Eating Disorder Foundation




		Becoming a Facilitator Welcome to A Place of Our Own^®, The Eating Disorder Foundation’s not-for-profit Support Center where we provide support groups, classes and a place of community for anyone who currently has an eating disorder or has struggled in the past, as well as their family & friends. A Place of Our Own is an environment of healing, education, rejuvenation and hope. Our goal is to inspire sustained eating disorder recovery by offering a wide variety of activities that promote confidence, self-awareness and life skills important for independent living and overall well-being. A Place of Our Own is also a place of connection where people can spend time meeting with friends, studying, reading in the library or finding solace in the garden. To create a full spectrum of resources for our support center, EDF is looking for people interested in providing service in the form of: Facilitating an Educational or Movement Class Running a Support Group Leading a Workshop or Recreational Activity Presenting a Town Hall Meeting Participating in Educational Outreach Facilitator Guidelines We are looking for community members who have significant experience in their field of study and believe in the mission of EDF. When applicable, EDF will require the same licensing, credentials and insurance coverage that is usual and customary in your field of study. Course Material Submission Guidelines Although EDF welcomes all ideas, it will review each Facilitator’s proposal to ensure materials are consistent with basic parameters set by the Foundation. EDF is dedicated to helping Facilitators present their material in the most effective way for our population. Once we receive your completed Facilitator Questionnaire, we will contact you to set up a personal interview. You can fill out the Facilitator Questionnaire by going to the link at the bottom of the page. Course Design Guidelines EDF is looking for course material that falls into any of the following categories: Psychological: any course that helps increase self-esteem, self-awareness, self-understanding or self-acceptance Physical: any course that teaches moderate and manageable exercise or nutrition as well as nurturing care of the physical body Practical: any course that improves the use of practical life skills vital for living more independently and responsibly Playful: any course that teaches a new hobby, recreational activity or relaxation techniques Presence: any course that increases awareness, understanding and practice of spiritual ideas EDF would like to see courses that are interactive, experiential, provide information that can be put into immediate practice and includes a combination of lecture, hands on involvement, graphics and easy-to-read handouts. Be prepared to give participants a “road map” as to where the course is taking them, what the course is teaching, how it will be taught and the benefits people will receive by taking the course. Offer resource material when possible such as web sites, magazine subscription information, bibliographies, organizations they can join, additional classes they can take related to your topic and any other community resources. Members of the center are going to be in varying life stages in addition to varying stages of eating disorder recovery. Therefore, it is important for Facilitators to be flexible and adjust their courses to meet the needs of their particular group. Course Topic Ideas Possible classes and activities include, but are not limited to: mindfulness, gardening, cooking, money management, time management, organizing, goal setting, communication, values clarification, sexuality, temperament awareness, charkas and energy healing, writing, journaling, home improvement, hobbies and recreation, art, music, dance, meditation, spirituality, visualization, photography, knitting, parenting, hiking, yoga, grocery shopping, clothes shopping, restaurant outings, wilderness trips, equine coaching, resume writing, beauty and make-up, jewelry making, setting boundaries Course Structure Courses are categorized in the following ways: Classes Educational Class 4, 6, or 8 weeks in length 1 ½ to 2 hours long 1 day per week They can be based on original material, a book, or CD series Movement Class 4, 6, or 8 week or ongoing 1 hour long 1-2 days per week Support Groups on-going 1 ½ hours long 1 day per week will include 2-3 rotating facilitators for each support group Workshops Periodic ½ day - 2 ½ days in length Includes: recreational and educational activities Town Hall Meetings Periodic 1 ½ - 2 hour presentations Benefits to Facilitators Continuing Education Credits: All mental health professionals required by DORA to fulfill continuing education credits will be able to use their facilitation experience toward their continuing education requirements. Support Meetings: All Facilitators are welcome to take part in EDF's Facilitator Support Meetings. This group is intended to support Facilitators by offering them an opportunity to: Discuss how their courses are progressing Talk about personal issues that may be affecting their facilitation Discuss difficult class situations that may be arising Receive feedback or ideas from other facilitators Individual Support: All Facilitators will have a “Point Person” with whom they can address issues individually and confidentially. Although Facilitators are not permitted to solicit business from the members of the Support Center, participating in EDF’s Support Center will expose them to a wide variety of professionals in the community, providing them with an opportunity to build their professional reputation within the community. A note about support groups EDF will continue to offer its current support groups for members and friends & family. We are planning to offer more groups to accommodate a variety of support group needs including groups for men, women over 35, LGBT and pre/post natal women. We welcome any ideas you have that could accommodate other support group needs. Sign-up Please complete the Facilitator Questionnaire. Once we receive your completed Questionnaire, we will contact you to set up a personal interview. If you would like more details or have specific questions, please contact Amy Bourdo at 303.641.7569 or abourdo@eatingdisorderfoundation.org. Thank you for your interest in working with EDF to build an accessible program that contributes to the health, well-being and education of our community.