Elisa Project: A Social Service Organization

Running Head: The Elisa Project

The Elisa Project: A social service organization

Carrie Boyd Lutter

The University of Texas at Arlington

Abstract

Social services are those services provided to individuals or families experiencing difficulty in meeting their basic human needs, and are found at macro, meso, and micro levels. The Elisa Project is an important social service organization, supporting communities and individuals affected by disordered eating and unhealthy body image at all three levels. This manuscript will help the reader become familiar with a local social service organization and the impact it has on its various clients at each level.

The Elisa Project: A social service organization

The Elisa Project's mission is to promote "healthy living and awareness of the signs of disordered eating through educational programs and resources." As a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, it strives to be a cohesive resource, supporting and/or sponsoring programs for various clients at many levels. For example, organizing a national initiative to bring awareness to eating disorders and sponsoring an annual symposium for health professionals and educators across the nation, The Elisa Project works at the macro level. At the meso level, The Elisa Project provides assistance to Dallas/Ft. Worth professional organizations and communities in addressing disordered eating conditions related to health and mental health with its project resource center. Another of its current programs, Girls in Motion, is conducted on the Southern Methodist University (SMU) campus in Dallas and is aimed at the community level as well. The Elisa Project also works at the micro level to provide help to individuals and families facing these types of issues to gain access to appropriate services locally and across the nation. These are only a few highlights of this social service organization; the complete Elisa Project story is both a personal and important one to tell.

Leslie and Rick McCall founded The Elisa Project in 1999 in memory of their daughter Elisa to provide individuals with abnormal eating and their loved ones with education and support. Elisa Ruth McCall was a "vibrant, 20-year-old college student who, like many her age, suffered from the pain of an eating disorder throughout her adolescence." She journaled her personal struggle and reached out for help after several suicide attempts. However, in 1996 Elisa took her own life. Her story was first printed in a local newspaper in 1997 and her journal was eventually published, both at the request of the McCall's. They knew first hand there were no resources in the community and no one was talking about this devastating disorder. They wanted to offer a message of hope to others dealing with this issue, especially after reading a passage in Elisa's journal: "Hopefully a message will be sent out to society pleading with it to pay attention." They believe her great legacy is helping people rally around the cause of combating eating disorders. And since 1999, the McCall's have worked to educate professionals and provide resources for treatment options.

Milestones of the organization include its first board of directors in 2002, a printing of Elisa's story in the publication Reader's Digest in 2003, and community outreach programming in 2004, with school programs to become a major focus. Four initial projects were begun in 1999 and continue to present: 1) The Elisa Project Resource Center - a local library of hard-copy educational materials on eating disorders, 2) The Web Site Directory - providing online information about The Elisa Project and includes a Resource Guide of eating disorders experts/specialists and nationwide treatment centers, etc., 3) The Annual Professional Symposium - a daylong continuing education program for health professionals and educators, and 4) The annual community dinner - a fundraiser benefiting The Elisa Project. Along the way, several other projects to educate, prevent, share hope and help heal were organized. One example is The Elisa Ruth McCall Memorial Endowment at SMU, providing their Counseling and Testing Center with resources to implement a web site and peer education programs. Mentioned earlier, one such program is the Girls in Motion mentoring program pairing college students with young girls for four years, focusing on building a positive body image and self esteem. Other examples of the range of services include support groups for adolescents and adults, affiliate chapter opportunities to expand and unite efforts, an annual National Community Gathering in which "individuals attend Gathering in coffee shops, university campuses, conference rooms, book stores, and private homes to bring awareness to eating disorders", and curriculum for schools on teaching eating disorder awareness and prevention. Their no-cost educational programs are presented on the following topics: eating disorder awareness and prevention, signs and symptoms of eating disorders, positive body image, general nutrition, and healthy eating. Programs are presented in a variety of mediums such as interactive games and educational activities, panel discussing of professionals and specialists, personal stories of overcoming eating disorders, PowerPoint presentations, food models representing proper portion sizes and informative videos with question and answer sessions.

The current structure of The Elisa Project includes the founders, Leslie and Rick McCall who remain actively involved by attending monthly meetings with the executive board of directors and with fundraising, respectively. The executive board is comprised of a president, vice president, and secretary/treasurer and meets on its own once a month as well as once a month with the 12 general board members. The daily programming is run by the staffing of the executive, marketing, and programming director as well as an executive assistant. This staff also works diligently on fundraising to support the service organization efforts. It receives funding from the private sector through private grants and donations at the aforementioned events: the Annual