Helping Families with Feeding Since 2006

Inspired by their newborn triplets’ struggle to eat, Shannon and Bob Goldwater founded the Parent Organized Partnerships Supporting Infants and Children Learning to Eat (P.O.P.S.I.C.L.E.) Center in 2006 to help children with feeding disorders and create a support system for families. Born 14-weeks early, and each weighing a little over one pound, the Goldwater triplets spent their first four months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Once released, each child struggled to eat, and all would choke, cough, and gag during mealtimes. All three would eventually require feeding tubes to supplement their nutrition.

Feeding Matters has accomplished a great deal since its inception as P.O.P.S.I.C.L.E. Center in 2006. We remain committed to uniting the healthcare community with families to improve care for children with pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). We remain devoted to continuously seeking innovative ways to reach the children who need us most.

Timeline

2006

  • Goldwaters established the P.O.P.S.I.C.L.E. Center and provided the initial seed funding 
  • Founding Medical Professional Council created

2007

  • Monthly parent support groups began
  • 2,700+ hours were donated by four parent volunteers

2008

  • 18 feeding experts gathered for the first official meeting of the Founding Medical Professional Council

  • Group identified the importance of a screening tool, and members began work on what would eventually become the flagship Infant and Child Feeding Questionnaire©

  • Focus expanded to national outreach, community advocacy and awareness, and developing educational activities for both parents and professionals

  • Established a regularly convening Board of Directors

  • Co-hosted the Pediatric Feeding Disturbances conference

2009

  • Launched ten-month series of educational workshops for healthcare professionals and families

  • Formed the Community Advisors board

  • Medical Professional Council developed the Infant and Child Feeding Questionnaire©

2010

  • Offered first educational webinar, which focused on the importance of a team approach in caring for children with pediatric feeding disorder

2011

  • P.O.P.S.I.C.L.E Center won both the Investee and Mentor’s Choice Awards at Social Venture Partners of Arizona’s inaugural Fast Pitch event, a prize totaling $122,500 towards building the capacity of the organization

2012

  • Initial parent support groups evolved into the Power of Two mentoring and support program. This expanded capacity allowed families worldwide to begin receiving the help and hope they need

2013

  • P.O.P.S.I.C.L.E. Center was rebranded as Feeding Matters, though the organization’s purpose remained the same — making a better world for children with pediatric feeding disorder

2014

  • The Virtual Health Resource Platform launched on the new Feeding Matters website, allowing worldwide access to the provider directory, video libraries, and other digital educational resources

2015

  • Over 600 people attended the 4th Pediatric Feeding Conference. These in-person and virtual participants represented ten countries and a wide variety of disciplines

2016

  • Work began on the pediatric feeding disorder Advocacy and Early Intervention Model (AIM), Feeding Matters’ model to transform the system of care for children nationwide

  • Internationally renowned feeding experts began to define the scope and definition of pediatric feeding disorder

2017

  • Pilot research showing that a subset of Feeding Matters’ Infant and Child Feeding Questionnaire© significantly distinguishes a pediatric feeding disorder was published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

2018

  • Launched three-year, $3 million Power of a Name campaign supporting the widespread acceptance and awareness of pediatric feeding disorder

2019

  • The groundbreaking consensus paper declaring pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) the unifying name and stand-alone diagnosis for the broad spectrum of pediatric feeding struggles is formally published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

2020

  • In August, the CDC shared that PFD will have a diagnostic code in an upcoming edition of the US ICD-10, finally bringing validation for families and professionals.
  • 2nd phase of the Infant and Child Feeding Questionnaire Research published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
  • Served as the catalyst to the research that showed that more than 1 in 37 children have PFD.
  • 4 state’s Governors declared a PFD Awareness Month.

Meet Feeding Matters' devoted staff, founder, board of directors, PFD Alliance Council, and more.

Team

Facilitating systemic change for PFD and empowering families around the globe.

Impact

We are Advocates, Educators, Researchers, and Policy Influencers

Who We Are