The goal of the CSAB Community Outreach Program is to promote greater awareness of eating disorders in the New York metropolitan region. CSAB staff, candidates, and affiliates have developed a series of workshops and lectures which are available at low-cost to community groups, hospitals, employee assistance programs, schools, and colleges. We also consult with and provide training and liaison services for other mental health agencies and institutions.
CSAB actively seeks to identify student groups that would benefit from our programs. Since our inception, we have spoken with thousands of students, representing at least over a hundred schools at all academic levels, including middle school, high school, college, and graduate schools. Our programs address issues such as coping with stress, body image concerns, expectations about appearance, and the impact of media and celebrities on self-esteem. The underlying theme of all these programs is: 'how to deal with eating disorders and disordered eating'.
CSAB is the New York City coordinator for the National Eating Disorders Association's (NEDA) Eating Disorder Awareness Week. In 2004, CSAB held an impressive multifaceted workshop. Dr. Melanie Katzman, an internationally renowned expert in the cultural components of eating disorders, addressed a group of therapists and school guidance personnel on "The Reality of Eating Disorders in the 21st Century: A Multicultural Perspective". In recent years, immigrants to New York have become increasingly diverse, making it important for clinicians to understand the role of culture in the development of an eating disorder.
Following Dr. Katzman's presentation, participants engaged in interactive esteem building exercises that they could bring back to their clinical or academic settings. Educators and clinicians were encouraged to participate in NEDA's Media Watchdog Alert program and to develop a more critical eye about messages regarding body image in advertising.
To learn more about CSAB's Community Outreach programs and how they can benefit your group or community, please e-mail us at Info@csabnyc.com or call (212) 333-3444.
