Last week you may have noticed there was no newsletter from me…as part of my plan to increase the access for families to more support, I was leading another training of Eating Disorder Caregiver (EDC) Coaches. I’ll be passing most clients onto these new coaches AND I’ll still be taking referrals from my clinical colleagues.
Check out the silly photo my co-leader and training writer, Kirsten Pardoe took of me as we sat at our respective “ironing board desks” which we discovered are the original stand up/sit down desks. LOL.
Sometimes it can feel like alone we are not doing enough to help improve outcomes for those with eating disorders. And yet, as Margaret Mead said so well, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
What a joy to come out of my post training haze to see what the wonderful progress that the group of thoughtful, committed folks who make up the Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) have been doing to change the world for families impacted by eating disorders!
I cannot express this better than my dear friend Kitty Westin put it in her email that she sent yesterday. She gave me permission to share it here with you (along with this photo of her daughter Anna Westin who died as a direct result of her eating disorder on Feb. 17, 2000):
“Good morning family and friends, I have so much to share today about WithAll 
and the Eating Disorders Coalition. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for all the love and support you have given to our family and our work in Anna’s name. I thought it would be appropriate to send you some concrete examples of Anna’s legacy.
You may have seen the e-book that WithAll sent earlier this week. If not, I will attach a copy. It is an amazingly simple and effective tool to help anyone who speaks to kids to know “What to Say”! I am extremely proud of WithAll’s work and our targeted effort to change the conversation to prevent eating disorders in the first place. And, you don’t have to read the book -hahaha- to sign the pledge that is on our website; www.withall.org.
And, I’m very excited to share that we’ve received confirmation that the Anna Westin Legacy Act was introduced yesterday. The Anna Westin Legacy Act will reauthorize the National Center for Excellence for Eating Disorders, which was authorized in the Anna Westin Act of 2016. For those who may not know, yesterday marked the anniversary of Anna’s death. I requested that we introduce on that day as a f*** you to anorexia. I will attach the press release.
One last request, if you haven’t already done so, please sign up (it’s free) for the WithAll virtual “A Night with You”. Register at www.withall.org . It’s our annual fundraiser that will help us continue the amazing work we have done for the past 22 years and intend to continue doing until eating disorders are a thing of the past – a lofty goal for sure but I have hope that it’s achievable!!
Thank you all for supporting me, our family, our work and everyone affected by eating disorders!” Love, Kitty
This is the announcement from the Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC): (you can see the entire message here on the EDC Website)
INTRODUCTION OF ANNA WESTIN LEGACY ACT BROADENS IMPACT OF THE LANDMARK LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, DC – On February 17, 2022, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced the Anna Westin Legacy Act in the U.S. Senate, with Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), and Ted Deutch (D-FL) committing to introduce a companion bill in the U.S. House. This bipartisan legislation will authorize the Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (the Center), first created by the Department of Health and Human Services after the passage of the Anna Westin Act in 2016, to continue training and equipping health care professionals to screen, briefly intervene, and refer individuals to treatment for eating disorders. The Anna Westin Legacy Act’s introduction coincides with the anniversary of Anna Westin’s passing on February 17, 2000. Anna Westin once said, “may your dreaming never end and your voice never die” and the EDC is honored to work with Congress to keep Anna’s voice alive.
Feel free to check out WithAll and/or the EDC if you’re feeling compelled to help out in whatever way feels right to you. When we each take actions that align with our values and honor our time, together we are making a difference.
Now I’m glad that my 2nd Edition of, “Just Tell Her To Stop: Family Stories of Eating Disorders” has been delayed as I look forward to updating Anna & Kitty Westin’s story to include the Anna Westin Legacy Act when it passes. Together we can all make sure that it will pass the Senate and House as well and be signed into legislation this year and it’s passage can be included in their story.
And as Anna said, “May your dreaming never end and your voice never die.” Keep using your voice, it matters.
