The PFD Alliance Goal
The goal of the Pediatric Feeding Disorder Alliance is to further advances in pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) by accelerating identification, igniting research, and promoting collaborative care.
HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH OUR GOAL?
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Working toward solutions on issues identified as priorities within the field
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Looking for areas of collaboration with public health partners outside of Feeding Matters
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Identifying emerging public health projects and sharing work openly across partners
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Determining a common language for all PFD professionals to adopt and use
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Sharing data to enhance treatment
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Advocating on behalf of pediatric feeding disorder and Feeding Matters
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Funding research to advance the PFD field
PFD ALLIANCE MEMBERS AGREE THAT:
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Families/caregivers are an equal and valued member of the treatment team and should be respected in this way.
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The domains represented in the evaluation of PFD must include: medical, nutrition, psychosocial, and feeding skill.
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There are no identified longitudinal, evidence-based best practices for intervention.
This is due to the lack of longitudinal information available in the current research, and the heterogeneous nature of the population of children with pediatric feeding disorders. As a result, we believe it is critical that
a) a family’s definition of success be incorporated into treatment planning;
b) treatment philosophies may not be equally appropriate for all children, and
c) that families should be well informed about all services that exist. -
Multiple perspectives are necessary to create a functional system of care. This includes not only families and healthcare professionals but also partners who represent insurance companies, academia, public health, legislators, and others.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND EFFORT TO REDUCE BIAS
In order to assure credibility and effectiveness, the PFD Alliance must assure the integrity of deliberations and decisions, and maintain sensitivity to and vigilance for conflicts of interest. Conflict of interest arises whenever personal or professional interests are potentially at odds with the best interest of Feeding Matters. Conflicts may include actual financial or non-financial conflicts, as well as perceived or potential conflicts.
The Alliance does not view the existence of these conflicts as necessarily implying bias or decreasing the value of an individual’s participation in membership. This is intended to help identify circumstances that may create conflicts or apparent conflicts and respond appropriately to prevent their influencing the activities of the Alliance. It is Feeding Matters’ intention to allow as full participation as possible consistent with a policy that seeks to minimize and/or eliminate conflicts.
By participating on the Alliance, members are required to declare any potential conflicts of interest and must continue to follow the Alliance’s conflict of interest section of the team charter. It is at the Executive Council’s discretion for a person with a potential conflict to be allowed to serve on a committee or in a leadership position. The goal is to be transparent, and to ensure that the best interests of Feeding Matters are served.