How Does It Work?

Group Safety

Central to the function of Recovery Meet-Ups, is maintaining the safety of our Participants and Mentors. In addition to our Meet-Up Guidelines, each cohort of 5 to 8 Participants draft additional guidelines including No-Go words, hours of contact, and the level of anonymity each cohort is comfortable with. In addition, our Meet-Up Mentors undergo a formal application process and background check through our Better Impact Volunteer software.

Value Based Initiatives

The final portion of a Meet-Up is dedicated to helping Participants connect their values to their Recovery journey. This is done through group education on past or present social, economic, and political issues that hav impacted or continue to effect mental health and disordered eating. Participants are encouraged to engage with the problems they examine within their own communities through group organizing, creating or promoting awareness programs, petitioning, volunteering, or collegiate outreach and writing. 

Education

Through utilizing our online platform, Recovery Meet-Ups provides our audience opportunities to learn about the intersection of mental health recovery and the social and political conditions of their communities. Example topics may include interviews with local political candidates on their plans to address food insecurity, an Instagram post featuring audible resources and podcasts about the diet culture Industry, or sharing the body positive work of Black activists and academics.

Open Process Time

The first half of Meet-Up Sessions allows Participants to receive empathy and support from their peers during Process Time. Disordered eating recovery can be isolating; Process Time allows for Participants to air the progress they have made and obstacles they have faced while challenging their eating disorders or harmful belief systems. 

Outreach

Through NEDA fundraisers, our Ambassadorship program, Instagram  collabs, takeovers, and stories, and our directory of resources we involve and educate those facing disordered eating recovery and supporters of mental health. Education about insurance disparities in mental healthcare and awareness  of disordered eating begins with connecting unfamiliar sectors of our communities together. 

Connecting Those In Need

While Recovery Meet-Ups' community oriented structure aims to support our participants as efficiently and safely as possible, we recognize the limitations and boundaries Recovery Meet-Ups and our Meet-Up Mentors. We always provide participants free resources to seek professional mental and physical health care in their area.