What is the purpose of community councils?
Community Councils aim to increase awareness, engagement, and funding for Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) while improving support for families and providers.
Where are the councils located?
Feeding Matters currently supports councils in Arizona, California, Georgia, the Northeastern region, Ohio, Texas, Washington State, and Wisconsin.
What do Community Councils do?
Councils identify state and regional challenges and work collaboratively to improve systems of support for families and providers.
What is the time commitment for meetings?
Councils meet virtually for one hour. Meeting frequency is determined by members and typically occurs every 6 weeks to once per quarter.
What is the time commitment outside of meetings?
Time outside of meetings is goal-driven and focused on meaningful, high-impact activities—not busy work. Efforts align with member-identified priorities to improve outcomes for families and providers.
What is expected of participants?
Participants are encouraged to:
- Engage respectfully and listen with curiosity
- Share experiences and perspectives as they feel comfortable
- Participate in discussion and reflection
- Value and respect diverse perspectives and contributions
Who should join a council?
Councils strive to include diverse representation from all stakeholders including, lived and provider experience (feeding skill: occupational, speech-language pathology; medical; parent/caregiver; physical therapy; psychology/social work/BCBA; Registered Dietitian)
Councils welcome diverse representation, including both lived and professional experience (e.g., caregivers/parents, dietitians, medical providers, occupational and speech therapists, physical therapists, psychologists/BCBAs, social workers, and school personnel).
What supports does Feeding Matters provide?
- Resources
- Council management and coordination
- Educational and evidence-based resources
- Family and provider toolkits
- Mentorship opportunities
- Provider directory
Who do I contact with questions?
- Specific council-specific questions, contact your state’s Community Council Chair: https://www.feedingmatters.org/community-councils/
- If there is no council in your state, Contact Jen Lambert at jlambert@feedingmatters.org