TO ADDRESS THE URGENT PROBLEM OF EATING DISORDERS, OU PRESENTS SPECIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP FOR YESHIVA AND DAY SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, NOVEMBER 25
The Orthodox Union in its continued efforts of addressing the growing problem of eating disorders (which is predominantly prevalent among the female population but which has also made strong inroad with males as well) in the Orthodox Jewish community, will present Special Professional Development Workshop for Yeshiva and Day School Mental Health Professionals and Guidance Counselors. This program is presented by the OU in conjunction with the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York, FEGS, and The Yeshiva Counseling Network.
The workshop will take place on Wednesday, November 25, 9:45-12 pm, at the Board of Jewish Education, 520 8th Avenue (bet. 36th and 37th) on the 15th Floor.
The keynote address on the topic of eating disorders will be made by Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair of Harvard Medical School and an Eating Disorders Specialist, who will also meet with the Yeshiva/Day School mental health professionals at the event.
“Dr. Steiner-Adair was involved in the development of Hungry to Be Heard, a film on Eating Disorders, created by the Orthodox Union Young Leadership Council. Dr. Steiner-Adair is extremely committed to the Orthodox Union’s cause of creating awareness and addressing issues surrounding eating disorders in the Jewish community,” declared Frank Buchweitz, Director of OU’s Department of Community Services and Special Projects, who is spearheading efforts in this area with communal programs for parents in several communities.
Dr. Steiner-Adair is a faculty member of the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and is a well-known international speaker, consultant, and clinical psychologist. She is the Director of Eating Disorders Education and Prevention at the Klarman Eating Disorders Center at McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric facility of Harvard Medical School. She has authored countless professional articles and is the co-author of Full of Ourselves.
Dr. Steiner-Adair has also authored Bishvili, a Jewish supplement to her book, which has served as the basis for the development of an Orthodox guide for teachers and guidance counselors just completed by Elisheva Diamond and Sarah Weinberger-Litman (producers of Hungry to Be Heard). Copies of this guide will be available, free of charge, to all participants.
“As we would like to reach as many guidance counselors as possible, we are also sending this message to school leadership on the importance of this excellent professional development opportunity,” Frank Buchweitz said.
To attend RSVP community@ou.org; space is limited to a first response basis.