Dear Friends,
We are proud to share OCD Louisiana’s 2024 Annual Report, highlighting a year of meaningful progress and connection. We begin by extending our heartfelt gratitude to outgoing board member Michele Carroll, PsyD, for her seven years of exemplary dedication and service. As a founding member of OCD Louisiana, Michele played an instrumental role in shaping our organization, serving as both Treasurer and Vice President. We are deeply grateful for the time, energy, and passion she has poured into our mission, and she will be truly missed!
In late 2023, we were honored to be one of three affiliates selected for the Plant a Summer Camp grant opportunity. In partnership with Rise Center for OCD and Anxiety, we successfully launched Courageous Campers in July 2024. Our unique program is designed with evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles, all wrapped in the excitement of a hero’s journey. The inaugural session welcomed nine campers from across the region, each receiving 20 hours of treatment over the course of one week. Our supportive, energetic environment empowered these adventurers to confront fears and break free from the cycle of anxiety.
Beyond providing a meaningful intervention for youth, Courageous Campers also served as a valuable training ground for the next generation of OCD providers. Psychology doctoral trainees from Tulane University, Louisiana State University, and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Xavier University of Louisiana volunteered as camp counselors, working under the supervision of licensed psychologists. These trainees gained invaluable hands-on experience delivering Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — a specialty training opportunity rarely available in their core programs. This initiative directly supports OCD Louisiana’s mission to increase access to well-trained OCD providers across our region.
We are incredibly proud of the foundation built through Courageous Campers and excited to continue growing this vital program. The inaugural year of Courageous Campers was made possible by the generous grant-funding of JACK Mental Health Advocacy (MHA) and sponsorship by Dufrene Surveying and Engineering and Children’s Hospital New Orleans. The program was developed with consultation of JACK MHA clinical staff and the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). We can’t thank these organizations enough for their invaluable assistance in making our vision a reality. They were pivotal to the success of Courageous Campers 2024 and instrumental in helping us pave the way for future years!
Courageous Campers is more than just a summer camp; it’s a journey of growth where kids learn to rise above their worries and build lasting confidence. To learn more about Courageous Campers — including how to enroll your child or support future sessions — please visit ocdlouisiana.org/courageous-campers.
Awareness and education remain critical to dismantling the ongoing misunderstandings about OCD and related disorders. On a sunny Sunday morning in November, we hosted our annual New Orleans One Million Steps for OCD Walk in Washington Square. About 60 walkers gathered, raising over $3,700 for OCD Louisiana and the IOCDF. These funds allowed us to provide complimentary registration for two individuals to attend the IOCDF’s virtual conferences — extending learning opportunities and access to support. This year, we also expanded the walk to include numerous child-focused activities, making the event more accessible and engaging for families. These additions fostered early education, encouraged family-wide participation, and even showcased activities completed by our inaugural Courageous Campers.
Throughout the year, OCD Louisiana continued our outreach efforts, connecting with the community through social media, email campaigns, fundraising events, and local partnerships. Our website and online platforms kept followers informed about virtual and in-person events hosted by the IOCDF and affiliates, as well as opportunities to participate in research studies advancing the understanding of OCD and related disorders. In November, we came together for a heartwarming Hope for the Holidays event, creating and sending handmade cards to individuals receiving residential treatment over the holiday season — a simple yet powerful reminder that they are not alone.
To strengthen the clinical community, we continued offering free monthly virtual consultation groups for providers — a space for collaborative learning, clinical support, and skill-building. Our board members were also honored to present at local universities on anxiety and OCD.
Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to expand Courageous Campers to help more children bravely face anxiety. In further support of our growing youth initiatives, we welcomed Megan Lilly, PhD to our board as our first Youth Events Coordinator. This coming year, we hope to grow our volunteer network to enhance both virtual and in-person programming, like the One Million Steps for OCD Walk. We remain committed to facilitating professional consultation groups, offering educational presentations, and deepening our training opportunities for emerging clinicians.
In closing, we offer our deepest thanks to the IOCDF for their unwavering support, and to the people of Louisiana whose kindness and enthusiasm drive our mission forward. We are energized for the year ahead and look forward to continuing this important work together.
Regards,
Kristin E Fitch, PhD
President, OCD Louisiana