introducing the ibd connect inc blog collaborations program

Have you ever felt the desire to share your journey with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and truly make a difference in the lives of others? Have you ever wished for your experiences with IBD to serve as a source of insight and support for those facing similar challenges? Do you long to feel a sense of empowerment after sharing your story? At IBD Connect Inc., we're so excited to unveil our latest initiative, launching today, June 1st, 2024: the Blog Collaborations Program. It is our hope that this program will provide you with these opportunities by inviting you to share your unique journey with IBD through our online blog. Whether by crafting a guest blog post or participating in an interview-style feature, everyone impacted by IBD is encouraged to contribute their voice.

In today's blog post, we're going to discuss the details of this program. We'll address some fundamental questions:

What is the Blog Collaborations Program?

Who can participate?

What is the purpose behind the program?

Why should I participate? How do I do so?

If I have questions about the program, where can I go for help?

We hope that this post will be both informative and encouraging. Remember, your voice matters!

What is the Blog Collaborations Program?

Our Blog Collaborations Program is a program that allows anyone impacted by IBD to share their unique journey with IBD in writing through our online blog. The program provides two avenues for participation:

Guest Blog Posts: Share your story, insights, and experiences with the IBD community through a written blog post. Whether it's a personal narrative, informative/educational piece, or advocacy-focused article, your contribution can make a meaningful impact.

Blog Interviews: Engage in a written interview with our team, where we'll guide you through a series of questions designed to highlight your journey with IBD. This interactive format offers a personal and dynamic way to share your story.

If you'd like more information about the requirements for each of these avenues, please continue reading below.

Additional Information and Requirements Regarding Guest Blog Posts:

Length: 500-2000 words

Formatting: Please format your blog post using a 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced. This will ensure consistency and readability across all submissions. Thank you for your cooperation! Please submit your post as a Word document or Google Doc, accompanied by any images or graphics you wish to include.

Content: We welcome original and pertinent submissions tailored to the IBD community, centering around personal experiences, practical advice, advocacy efforts, educational insights, or any topic relevant to pediatric IBD. While crafting your post, please consider that our blog primarily serves parents and caregivers of children diagnosed with pediatric IBD. However, we encourage contributions that resonate with anyone impacted by IBD, fostering a diverse and inclusive dialogue

Review Process: Our team will review all submissions for relevance, clarity, and adherence to our guidelines. We may provide feedback or request revisions before publishing.

Additional Information and Requirements Regarding Blog Interviews:

Format: If you choose to participate in a blog interview, you will receive an emailed set of ten interview questions via Word document and/or Google Drive, allowing you to write out your answers at your convenience. You'll have the flexibility to respond in detail, reflecting on your experiences and insights.

Duration: Participants can take their time to craft thoughtful responses, with no time constraints.

Submission: Once you've completed your written responses, simply return the document to me, Emily Fournier, via email at .

Review Process: Our team will review your written responses for clarity, relevance, and authenticity. We may offer feedback or request clarifications if needed before proceeding to publication.

Who Can Participate?

Anyone affected by pediatric IBD, including patients, caregivers, family members, friends, healthcare professionals, advocates, and more, is encouraged to participate in our Blog Collaborations Program. At IBD Connect, we are committed to showcasing the diverse range of experiences surrounding IBD, recognizing that each story holds valuable insights into how this condition impacts individuals, families, and communities. We believe that true understanding and awareness can only be achieved through a rich tapestry of submissions from a multitude of voices within the IBD community. Therefore, we will reiterate that anyone affected by pediatric IBD is welcome to participate.

Nondiscrimination Clause:

IBD Connect Inc. is dedicated to ensuring equal opportunity for all participants in our Blog Collaborations Program. We pledge to provide access to our program and its benefits without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other protected status, as outlined by relevant federal, state, and local regulations. Our commitment extends to all aspects of our program, including the selection process for guest blog posts and interviewees. Discrimination has no place in our organization's operations.

The Purpose Behind the Program

As many of you know, IBD Connect Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to support, engage, and empower pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and their families. Our comprehensive programs and educational resources are specifically designed to do one or more of the following: support IBD families in need, engage IBD families in building a strong community, or empower IBD families to make a difference in the lives of other families in need. We firmly believe that our Blog Collaborations Program is particularly aligned with our mission to empower IBD families. Participating in this program can imbue individuals with a profound sense of empowerment, knowing that their story has the potential to provide comfort and guidance to others navigating similar circumstances. Furthermore, by sharing their experiences through this platform, participants may inspire and empower fellow patients and families to take action in some way (e.g. making dietary or lifestyle changes, becoming advocates for the IBD community, joining or starting a support group, etc.).

Why Participate? How do I Participate?

As previously mentioned, sharing your story through our Blog Collaborations Program offers a powerful opportunity to fulfill our mission to empower families with IBD. By sharing your narrative, you have the chance to forge connections within the IBD community, illuminate the challenges and victories of living with IBD, and ignite feelings of hope and solidarity. Your willingness to share not only empowers you but also serves as a beacon of reassurance and comfort for others navigating similar journeys.

If you would like to participate in our Blog Collaborations Program by writing a guest blog post, please kindly review the guidelines for posts. These can be found above in this post or on the “Blog Collaborations Program” page under our “Resources” tab on our main website. When you are ready for submission, you can choose to upload your piece to our main website via the submission platform. You may also choose to email your piece directly to myself, Emily Fournier, at . Please note that our team will review your work for clarity, relevance, authenticity, and adherence to our guidelines, and submission does not guarantee that your work will be published. Furthermore, we may offer feedback or request clarifications if needed before proceeding to publication. We will contact you via email if revisions are needed. If only minor grammatical corrections are necessary, we may choose to edit the piece for you. If this is the case, we will email you the corrected piece for your approval before publication. Once a publication date is set, we will inform you promptly via email.

If you would like to participate in our Blog Collaborations Program via a written interview, please email your interest to myself, Emily Fournier, at . Please include in your email the topic you would like your interview questions to focus on. Example topics that we have covered in previous interviews include:

Living with an ostomy

Parenting a child with IBD

Insights from pediatric gastroenterologist on IBD

A behavior analyst's look on behavior therapy in pediatric IBD care

Growing up with IBD

A sibling's perspective on pediatric IBD

Please note that even if a topic has been covered before, we're eager to hear your unique perspective—every voice is valued and welcomed.

Questions or Concerns?

For any questions, concerns, or additional information about our Blog Collaborations Program, please don't hesitate to contact me, Emily Fournier, via email at . I'm here to support you every step of the way. You may also view all of the information discussed above, as well as view the submission portal, on the “Blog Collaborations Program” page under our “Resources” tab on our main website.

In conclusion, the launch of our Blog Collaborations Program marks an exciting milestone in our ongoing efforts to support, engage, and empower the IBD community. We believe that every story shared has the power to uplift, educate, and inspire, and we're honored to provide a platform for these narratives to be heard. As we embark on this journey together, we invite you to seize this opportunity to share your journey, your insights, and your experiences with the world. Whether through a guest blog post or a written interview, your voice matters, and your story has the potential to make a profound impact on others facing similar challenges. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every participant who chooses to join us in this endeavor.

For those ready to participate, please refer to the guidelines provided and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. We look forward to the incredible stories that await us! As always, stay strong IBD Warriors families!