Dear School District Member,
I am writing to introduce myself as a volunteer NEDA Navigator, a program of the National
Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). NEDA Navigators, trained by NEDA’s clinical advisors
and staff, are individuals who have faced an eating disorder diagnosis of a family member,
friend or other loved one, or have recovered personally. We are members of NEDA’s Parent,
Family and Friend Network (PFN) who volunteer to connect locally to families and friends of
those with eating disorders and offer free information and resources to aid you as you work
with students and their families. I am available to help community members find the most
up-to-date resources, including how to navigate insurance issues, identify treatment choices
available to families and locate support groups, and more.
As we know first-hand that dealing with the systems and emotions that often accompany the
road to recovery can be overwhelming, NEDA Navigators are trained to share our own story
responsibly to provide insight and hope, and offer a listening ear as someone who’s been
there. We do not offer mental health services, but rather, help those struggling connect to
the treatment and resources they need.
NEDA recognizes that school personnel are in a position to detect the signs and symptoms
of an eating disorder in students, alert parents and refer those affected to treatment. I
appreciate you taking the time to read this letter about what I offer as a NEDA Navigator
and hope you will consider referring the parents of those affected if I can provide support
and resources. I can be contacted by email at __________@pfn.nationaleatingdisorders.org.
To download NEDA’s free Educator Toolkit and for more information about the NEDA
Navigators program, visit www.NationalEatingDisorders.org or contact Diana Kalogridis,
Program Coordinator, at dkalogridis@myneda.org or 212-575-6200.
Sincerely, NAME
NEDA Navigator
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