Buddy referral system: Members can refer clients to
one another for
groups or other services they do not provide.
IAEDP
is sending a letter to all insurance companies listing the names of
Certified Eating Disorder Specialists. (This could result in more
referrals for you.)
Eating
disorder specialists and members will be listed on the internet with
links to other important referral bases.
Receive
newsletters from IAEDP (4 times per year)
Chapter
events are listed in quarterly Connections newsletter and on
website
How
to Start
You
may want
to begin with having lunch at a restaurant with friends you already
know, measuring the interest, and making goals for the group and plan
how to proceed.
Get
list from IAEDP of members in your location. (1-800-800-8126).
Contact
treatment centers, hospitals, schools, for facility to meet and to
help with mailings, brochures, flyers. They may
even do a mailing to their mailing lists for you.
Contact
state professional organizations-Psychiatrists, psychologists, social
workers, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family counselors, nutritionists, art
and movement therapists to
let them know of your new organization. They might even put a
public service announcement about your meetings in their newsletters.
Your first task as a group should be to
select a President, President Elect, Treasurer, and Secretary. IAEDP
National recommends 2 year terms for continuity. The President at
the end of the term becomes the Immediate Past President. This format
will help to keep your group strong and viable. Bylaws are available
from IAEDP National.
- Hold
monthly board meetings. It is suggested that you start out with
quarterly membership meetings which are approximately 1.5 hours
long and include a 1 hour presentation with the balance of the
time spent in networking.
Speakers
Authors,
well-respected speakers from the area, panels discussing a particular
topic. (You will be surprised the wisdom of your own members.)
You might also offer to speak which will helps others
to know of your strengths for referrals.
After a few quarterly meetings you might want
to plan a conference with a locally well known speaker. Contact
a treatment center, hospital, school, community center to hold the
conference. Contact different
professional organizations and ask them to put a notice of your conference
in their newsletter. Send out emails or flyers regarding
the time, place, speakers, cost. Ask conference
attendees to get involved with your local chapter of IAEDP.
Start a Speakers Bureau from your membership.
Each
time a member speaks to a group, pass out the information on your
chapter listing the certified people in your area to let the group
know of eating disorder specialists. (More referrals)
Send information about your chapter listing certified
members to schools, hospitals, treatment centers, all professional
therapy organizations so when the organization needs to know eating
disorder professionals, your name will be listed. (More referrals)
Get
speakers from your location with different specialties:
Psychiatrists,
Psychologists, Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, Marriage
Counselors, School Counselors, Nutritionists, Art and Movement Therapists
Learn from one another: Have a meeting devoted to case studies:
Where difficult cases can be discussed. (This can be
done
instead of a speaker or on a separate date.)
Allow
time at each meeting
for networking: (Encourage people to bring flyers about their groups
or programs) Get to know one another so you can refer to one another!
