When Food Access Meets Mental Health

Eating disorders are often misunderstood as conditions rooted only in body image. In reality, access to food, economic stability, and systemic inequities can significantly shape a person’s relationship with food, their risk of developing disordered eating, and their ability to access care.

Join Rock Recovery and Northern Virginia Food Rescue for a morning of learning, conversation, and connection as we explore the intersection of food access, mental health, and eating disorders. This event will bring together community stakeholders and mental health providers to better understand how barriers to food access can lead to disordered eating patterns.

The morning will begin with breakfast and networking, followed by a tour of Northern Virginia Food Rescue to learn more about the organization’s work addressing food access in our region. Participants will then hear from an expert panel featuring professionals within the food access and eating disorder spaces, as well as lived experience perspectives. Following the event, there will be an open Q&A.

Together, we will explore how communities can work toward more equitable access to food and eating disorder care, and how cross-sector partnerships can strengthen prevention, early intervention, and recovery.

• Dr. Megan Franco, Northern Virginia Food Rescue
• Emilee Young, RDN, LD, Embrace Nutrition Counseling
• Johanna Concepcion, LCSW, Monte Nido Treatment Center
• Shandree McNatt, MPH, Rock Recovery

By attending this event, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the relationship between food access and disordered eating, including how food insecurity can impact eating behaviors and recovery outcomes.
   
2. Recognize systemic barriers that limit access to both a variety of food and eating disorder treatment, particularly for historically marginalized communities.
   
3. Identify opportunities for collaboration between mental health providers, nutrition professionals, and food access organizations to better support the community.

A special thank you to our event sponsor: !

Rock Recovery is a nonprofit based in Arlington, VA whose mission is to make life-saving eating disorder treatment and support accessible to all. Founded in 2009, Rock Recovery exists to help people break out of isolation and find real freedom from disordered eating and body image issues. Rock Rock Recovery offers holistic, affordable outpatient eating disorder care to individuals and families across DC, MD, & VA. To date, Rock has provided more than 700 individuals with life-changing eating disorder therapy and provided education and support to nearly 20,000 more. Learn more about Rock Recovery's programs at

Northern Virginia Food Rescue (NOVA-FR) is an innovative network of donor, volunteer, and distribution partners improving food accessibility and resiliency for our Northern Virginia community. Northern Virginia Food Rescue leverages technology to support a network of Food Rescue Programs throughout Northern Virginia ensuring food equity, local agriculture to expand healthy food options, educational opportunities to increase community health, and advocacy to strengthen our food system. Learn more at

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