Eating Disorder Foundation of Orange County Begins Providing Free Services to Local Community

May 5, 2005 -- The Eating Disorder Foundation of Orange County (EDFOC), a newly launched non-profit organization, has started offering free services to Orange County residents who recognize the need for prevention and early detection of eating disorder s in the Orange County, California area.

The newly launched non-profit provides free presentations to local schools, educators, parents, and athletic organizations, particularly gymnastics, that focus on relating accurate eating disorder information to our community. The Foundation's goal is to bring attention to the prevention of eating disorder s through educating young kids, teachers and parents starting in elementary school. The Foundation has developed a much needed curriculum that will become a part of education at every level. The Foundation also provides free public speakers for community and private events. In addition, EDFOC provides free and confidential eating disorder assessments, workshops and support groups for both adolescents and their families.

According to Nicole Bourquin, Founder and Executive Director, "We have to start providing real education about eating disorder s to our kids starting in elementary school. What we're seeing is that it's too late for prevention efforts in high school or middle school; the seeds of an eating disorder are sown much earlier as shown in recent research."

Bourquin comments on the lack of attention we give to eating disorder awareness,"Our biggest challenge here in Orange County is trying to convince parents and educators in our community that we have a serious problem and it's only getting worse."

Bourquin further stated, "It's frustrating to have to constantly convince parents and educators that the problem of eating disorder s in young people is real and can cause havoc in both the child and the child's family. The mission of the Eating Disorder Foundation of Orange County is to bring this serious issue into the spotlight."

About Nicole Bourquin
Nicole Bourquin is a local therapist in South Orange County. She has a Master's degree in Counseling, with a focus in health promotion, numerous continuation classes in eating disorder education and treatment, teen and adolescent studies, child abuse, eating disorder s in the gymnastics, dancing and modeling fields, domestic violence, substance abuse, and trauma response. She is presently finishing the required hours needed to sit for the State of California's Board of Behavioral Sciences' MFT license. Nicole provides counseling through Insight Counseling, a non-profit counseling center located in Lake Forest, CA. She specializes in working with adolescents and their families.

About Eating Disorder Foundation of Orange County
EDFOC was launched January 1st, 2005 and founded by local mental health practitioners, educators, and parents who recognize that eating disorder s represent a serious threat to the health and mental well-being of young people. For more information on upcoming workshops or presentations, call Nicole at the Eating Disorder Foundation of Orange County at (800) 342-9403.

Contact:
Nicole Bourquin
32545 B Golden Lantern, Suite 148
Dana Point, CA 92629
Telephone: (800) 342-9403
Fax: (949) 488-2418
http://www.edfoc.org

Eating Disorder Foundation of Orange County Begins Providing Free Services to Local Community

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Eating Disorder Foundation of Orange County Begins Providing Free Services to Local Community

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