Feeding Matters is proud to celebrate the 6th annual PFD
Awareness Month, which is recognized around the globe. This
designation, initiated by Feeding Matters in 2019, highlights the
medical, emotional, financial, educational, and social challenges
faced by families impacted by dealing with PFD.
PHOENIX, April 30,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Feeding Matters is proud
to celebrate the 6th annual PFD Awareness Month, which is
recognized around the globe. This designation, initiated by Feeding
Matters in 2019, highlights the medical, emotional, financial,
educational, and social challenges faced by families impacted by
dealing with PFD.
"Raising awareness about Pediatric Feeding
Disorder (PFD) is critical to improving health outcomes and
ensuring early interventions. Our goal is to make PFD as recognized
as autism by 2026, so affected children can receive comprehensive
care," said Jaclyn Pederson, CEO of
Feeding Matters.
In recognition of Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD), Arizona Governor Katie
Hobbs has formally reaffirmed May
2024 as PFD Awareness Month. Pediatric Feeding Disorder is a
condition which affects more than one in 37 children under five in
the US alone.
PFD is defined as impaired oral intake that is not
age-appropriate, associated with medical, nutritional, feeding
skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction, making it a standalone
medical condition. Families navigating PFD face numerous obstacles
including a lack of evidence-based data, the condition's diverse
and often misunderstood nature, and the intense emotional and
physical demands of feeding their children.
This year, Feeding Matters is honored to collaborate with the
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), who both support
feeding specialists, to strengthen our urgent call to raise
awareness for PFD.
Feeding Matters is excited to announce the continuation of their
pivotal awareness month campaign which includes multiple
opportunities to get involved, such as fundraising on behalf of
Feeding Matters, purchasing custom-designed awareness merch,
learning about PFD through shared stories, supporting the cause
through sponsorship, and most importantly sharing on social media.
Feeding experts from our partners ASHA and AOTA will be available
to answer questions the media might have to educate consumers about
PFD.
● Call it PFD Fundraising Campaign: Join the Call it PFD
fundraising campaign by creating your own fundraising page (link)
and encouraging your friends and family to donate. It's easy to
become a Champion from your very own home! Call it PFD
● Buy a PFD Awareness Month shirt or other merch. Post a photo
wearing your shirt with the tag #CallItPFD to your social
media.
● Learn about PFD. Read about the power of a diagnosis in these PFD
Stories or share your own
● Call it PFD sponsorship at the: "Feed the Cause: An Arizona
Signature Event Supporting Pediatric Feeding Disorder," scheduled
for November 7, 2024, at Papago Golf
Club.
"Raising awareness about Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) goes
beyond mere recognition—it is a critical step to drastically
improve health outcomes for children," said Jaclyn Pederson, CEO of Feeding Matters. "By
designating May as Pediatric Feeding Disorder Awareness Month, we
not only highlight this underrecognized condition but also
facilitate equitable access to essential early interventions. Our
goal is to make PFD a household name by 2026, similar to the
widespread awareness of autism as our histories are very similar.
This will ensure that every child affected can be identified early
and receive comprehensive care. The journey of managing PFD
involves intense emotional and physical challenges for entire
families, with every meal and every bite representing a significant
hurdle. It's imperative that these families no longer suffer in
silence. By increasing the visibility of PFD, we allow these
families to be seen and supported, emphasizing the necessity of
widespread awareness to foster understanding and provide
much-needed relief," concluded Pederson.
To learn more about pediatric feeding disorder and the work of
Feeding Matters, visit the website where you can find:
● The simple Feeding Matters Infant and Child Feeding
Questionnaire, which may help target areas of concern for families
and physicians
● Resources and Support, made available for families, caretakers
and members of the medical community
● Information and registration for our 11th Annual International
PFD conference, Join over 1,000 learners across the world who are
learning together about PFD, live April
24-26, 2024 and available on-demand through May 28, 2024.
About Feeding Matters
For kids with pediatric feeding disorder (PFD), every bite of food
can be painful, scary, or simply impossible to swallow, potentially
impeding nutrition, development, growth, and overall well-being.
Yet, there is no functional system of care for PFD locally,
nationally, or internationally. That's why Feeding Matters is
dedicated to creating a world where children with pediatric feeding
disorder will thrive. Established in 2006, Feeding Matters is the
first organization in the world uniting the concerns of families
with the field's leading advocates, experts, and allied healthcare
professionals to ignite unprecedented change to the system of care
through advocacy, education, support, and research – including a
stand-alone diagnosis, the International Pediatric Feeding Disorder
Conference, and the Infant and Child Feeding Questionnaire. In
2021, Feeding Matters reached nearly 200,000 individuals in 50
states and 143 countries through their programs and website. To
learn more about pediatric feeding disorder, visit
feedingmatters.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
at @FeedingMatters.
About AOTA
Founded in 1917, AOTA represents the professional interests and
concerns of approximately 230,000 occupational therapists,
assistants, and students nationwide. The Association educates the
public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by
providing resources, setting standards including accreditations,
and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in
Bethesda, Md., AOTA's major
programs and activities are directed toward promoting the
professional development of its members and assuring consumer
access to quality services so patients can maximize their
individual potential.
About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
(ASHA)
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing
association for 234,000 members, certificate holders, and
affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists;
speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and
speech-language pathology assistants; and students. Audiologists
specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance
disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including
hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) identify, assess,
and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders.
http://www.asha.org
Media Contacts:
Stephanie Sanstead
Public Relations
stephanie@communicadenceco.com
602-476-9997
Jaclyn Pederson, MHI
Chief Executive Officer
Feeding Matters
jpederson@feedingmatters.org
602.690.6680
Media Contact
Stephanie Sanstead, Feeding
Matters, 602-476-9997, stephanie@communicadenceco.com,
https://www.feedingmatters.org/
Jaclyn Pederson, CEO, Feeding
Matters, 602.690.6680, jpederson@feedingmatters.org,
https://www.feedingmatters.org/
Twitter
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SOURCE Feeding Matters