Feeding Forward
A Professional Development Program for Vermont Early Intervention Providers
Building Vermont’s Capacity to Support Young Children with Feeding Challenges
Children with feeding challenges are identified regularly throughout Vermont’s Early Intervention system. This initiative is designed to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence of Vermont’s early intervention providers so children and families receive timely, evidence-informed support wherever they live.
Over the past two years, Vermont’s Early Intervention system, in partnership with CSHN’s Nutrition Network, has implemented a statewide Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) screening process, helping providers identify children with feeding concerns earlier and more consistently. As screening has expanded, providers have identified a need for additional knowledge, practical resources, and specialized clinical expertise to better support families after a child screens positive.
This initiative is the next step in Vermont’s statewide effort to improve identification, evaluation, and treatment of children with feeding challenges. Developed through a partnership between the Early Intervention Project of Vermont and Feeding Matters, this program is designed to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and confidence of Early Intervention providers while expanding Vermont’s statewide network of feeding specialists.
Whether you are a developmental generalist, a specialist who is new to pediatric feeding, or an experienced feeding provider, there is a Learning Pathway designed for you.
Building Vermont’s Feeding System
Build Knowledge
Shared understanding of pediatric feeding disorder (PFD)
↓
Build Confidence
Practical tools for supporting children and families in everyday practice in Early Intervention
↓
Strengthen Vermont’s Feeding System
A stronger statewide specialist network, peer mentoring, and improved care for children and families
Program At-A-Glance
Hosted by: The Early Intervention Project of Vermont in partnership with Feeding Matters, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to Pediatric Feeding Disorder. For more than 20 years, Feeding Matters has advanced research, education, family-centered care, and workforce development while helping establish internationally recognized diagnostic criteria and advance the framework for Pediatric Feeding Disorder.
Cost: There is no cost for Vermont providers to participate.
Commitment: Because each Learning Pathway is designed as a connected learning experience, participants are expected to participate fully and attend all required sessions to the best of their ability.
Which Learning Pathway is Right for You?
Both Learning Pathways begin with a shared foundation. Participants then continue on the pathway that best aligns with their professional role and desired level of specialization.
Foundations Pathway
For Developmental Educators, Service Coordinators, or other providers supporting children birth-6
Specialist Pathway
For Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, Registered Dietitians supporting children birth-6 with feeding challenges
Foundations Pathway
Who should attend?
This program provides foundational knowledge and skills for supporting feeding in children from birth to age 3 within Vermont Early Intervention. The curriculum is designed for generalists (Developmental Educators and Service Coordinators) while also welcoming specialists (occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, registered dietitians, physical therapists, and nurses) who prefer a learning experience that is broader and more foundational than the Specialist Learning Pathway. Providers who serve children with feeding concerns through age 6 are also encouraged to participate, as many of the concepts and strategies apply across early childhood. Registration priority will be given to Vermont early intervention providers of any discipline.
Goals
Learn fundamentals of feeding development and typical variation, recognize common pediatric common concerns, support families following a positive feeding screen, implement practical strategies, and determine when to collaborate or refer for additional evaluation or intervention.
Learning Experience
Participants complete a combination of self-paced learning, live virtual discussions, and regional hands-on skills training. Throughout the program, participants explore pediatric feeding disorder (PFD), typical feeding development, family-centered coaching, practical intervention strategies, and Vermont’s coordinated response to children who screen positive for feeding concerns. Learning activities emphasize reflection, discussion, and application to everyday practice.
Participants will:
- Complete an online foundational learning module
- Explore practical resources that can be immediately incorporated into family coaching.
- Participate in regional hands-on skills training featuring practical demonstrations, positioning strategies, feeding tools, food texture exploration, and a regional subject matter experts.
- Apply new knowledge through case-based learning and learn how to respond following a positive feeding screen.
Certificates:
Foundations participants who complete all required learning activities and attend all required sessions will receive a certificate of completion for all contact hours. Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists who complete all required learning activities and attend all required sessions will receive 2-3 hours of CEUs from their relevant accrediting organization and a certificate of completion for all contact hours.
Program Timeline:
- Orientation (on-demand) — View at your convenience, available by October 15, 2026
- Independent Learning (on-demand) — Available November 1–December 31, 2026
- Collaborative Learning (live, online)— Choose one:
- January 13, 2027 | 1:00–2:30 PM EST
- January 14, 2027 | 1:00–2:30 PM EST
- Skills Training (in-person) — Choose one:
- February 10, 2027 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Manchester
- February 18, 2027 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Colchester
- Reflection and integration (live, online) — Choose one:
- April 8, 2027 | 1:00–2:30 PM EDT
- April 14, 2027 | 1:00–2:30 PM EDT
Specialist Pathway
Who is the Specialist Learning Pathway designed for?
The Specialist Learning Path is designed for Vermont occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and registered dietitians who provide (or plan to provide) feeding evaluation and intervention for children from birth through age 6.
Whether you are an aspiring feeding therapist looking to build a strong foundation or an experienced practitioner seeking to deepen your knowledge and skills, this program is designed to support your professional growth. Learning experiences begin with foundational concepts and progress to more advanced topics, with opportunities to explore areas of individual interest and learn alongside colleagues from across Vermont.
Because this initiative is designed to strengthen Vermont’s capacity to support children receiving Part C Early Intervention services, registration priority will be given to occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and registered dietitians who currently serve children birth–3, and those who are actively preparing to do so.
Providers who currently serve children ages 3–6 are encouraged to apply and will be offered any remaining spaces after priority registration closes. If demand exceeds available spaces, applications within each priority group will be processed in the order they are received.
Goal
Develop advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based feeding assessment and intervention skills while building a statewide community of practice and peer mentoring network.
Learning Experience
Specialists begin with the same foundational learning experience as all participants before joining an advanced statewide learning cohort facilitated by Feeding Matters. They then engage in peer mentoring, case-based learning, bi-weekly clinical learning sessions, conference participation, and advanced training that strengthens interdisciplinary feeding practice across Vermont. Specialists also have the option to participate in the Foundations Pathway live learning experiences.
Participants will:
- Complete the foundational online learning module and related independent learning activities, including surveys and self-reflections.
- Have the option to attend foundational collaborative learning and skills sessions offered to all participants.
- Receive complimentary access to the Feeding Matters International Feeding Development Conference.
- Participate in a statewide specialist learning cohort with peer mentoring.
- Engage in bi-weekly virtual learning sessions, facilitated by Feeding Matters faculty, focused on clinical reasoning and evidence-based intervention.
- Engage in ongoing collaboration with a Vermont-based peer mentor
- Present and discuss clinical cases.
- Attend an advanced in-person specialist intensive.
- Collaborate with colleagues to strengthen Vermont’s statewide feeding system.
- Have the option to be included in a statewide directory of pediatric feeding specialists to support collaboration and referral across Vermont.
CEUs/Certificates:
Participants in the Specialist Learning Path who are eligible occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists may earn up to 29 continuing education hours (CEUs). Registered dietitians in the Specialist Learning Path will receive a certificate of completion.
Program Timeline:
- Orientation (on-demand) — View at your convenience
- Independent Learning (on-demand) — Available November 1–December 31, 2026
- Cohort launch (live, online) — February 5, 2027 | 12:00–1:30 PM
- Feeding Matters International Feeding Development Conference (live, online & access to recorded sessions) — February 25-26, 2027
- Clinical Application (live, online) — Fridays, 12:00–1:30 PM
- February 19
- March 5
- March 19
- April 2
- April 16
- April 30
- May 14
- Peer Mentoring (live, online) Concurrent to Learning Sessions throughout February-June, 2027, times determined by peer-mentor dyads.
- Specialist Intensive (in person) — May 21, 2027 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Waterbury
- Systems Integration Workshop (in person) — June 4, 2027 | 9:00AM-2:00 PM | Waterbury
- Optional: Participate in the Generalist Learning Path live, online and regional in-person sessions (see details above)
Download Pathway Guides
Download the Foundations Learning Pathway At-A-Glance
Download the Specialist Learning Pathway At-A-Glance
Registration
Applications for the Feeding Forward Learning Pathways will open in mid-late August 2026. Please check back soon.
Each Learning Pathway has its own eligibility and priority enrollment criteria. Please review the pathway descriptions for complete details about eligibility, priority enrollment, and the application process.
We encourage all interested applicants to apply. All applicants will receive an email confirming their registration status by September 30, 2026.
Specialist Pathway FAQs
This pathway is designed to support a wide range of experience from clinicians who are new to pediatric feeding to experienced feeding therapists who want to deepen their knowledge, strengthen their clinical reasoning, and connect with colleagues across Vermont.
Learning begins with foundational concepts in feeding development and progresses to more advanced topics. Throughout the program, participants will have opportunities to explore areas of particular interest and learn from one another. Experienced practitioners are an important part of the learning community and may help enrich discussions by sharing their clinical expertise and perspectives.
This program is oriented around the needs and skills of providers supporting young children in a family context. While much of the skills and knowledge will be applicable across settings, course content and case examples will center on Early Intervention.
Yes. The program begins with foundational concepts and is designed to support clinicians who are developing their feeding knowledge and skills.
Yes. Experienced feeding therapists will have opportunities to deepen their knowledge, explore advanced topics, and strengthen connections with colleagues across Vermont. The program is designed to foster collaborative learning, and experienced participants play an important role in enriching discussions and building Vermont’s statewide feeding network.