Reflections from STAR state leader, Mary Orear on their legislative briefing held Tuesday, February 24th: “We had our briefing on this cold, sunny morning, and our team agreed that it went extremely well!

 

Eight legislators attended and two of those, Representative John Tuttle and Representative Anne Perry, standing in for House Speaker Hannah Pingree, spoke movingly of their own child’s near-death experience with anorexia. Following their comments, Aleah Starr, a sophomore at Colby College spoke of The Projection Project – a slide show she has created of college women and what the media projects on them. Her slides were being projected throughout the briefing and provided an important visual background and context to our comments.

 

I spoke about Maine’s parity bill, our treatment teams, and our need to educate school personnel about eating disorders.

 

Dr. Christine Selby spoke about the illnesses, the support group she facilitates, and the need for Maine to support a prevention program for eating disorders similar to the Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program.

 

And Karri Clohosey spoke about the services the New England Eating Disorders Program at Mercy Hospital offers.

 

At the conclusion of the briefing, Legislators took materials, signed the sheet, and spoke informally with us. Two are interested in sponsoring an eating disorders bill with the Speaker of the House, Hannah Pingree.

None of our team members had ever participated in a briefing before, and it was your organization and support that led us to such success!”

~Lara Gregorio, STAR Program Manager