Professional Education Course Features Internationally Known Speakers on Pediatric
Feeding Disorders!
On October 11 & 12, 2013, Care Options for Kids, Dallas is hosting the professional development
class T is for Treatment-Pediatric Feeding Disorders: PreChaining and Food Chaining Therapy
Programs. The course is presented by internationally recognized experts in pediatric feeding
disorders, Cheri Fraker, CCC/SLP, CLC and Laura Walbert, CCC/SLP, CLC.
Cheri Fraker, CCC/SLP, CLC is an ASHA certified pediatric speech pathologist who earned her
Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Speech Pathology from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston,
Illinois, 1986. Cheri’s work in feeding is recognized internationally. She has published articles on
Food Chaining in international medical periodicals, The Nest and Nutrition and the MD.
Cheri has worked in pediatrics for 28 years. She developed the techniques of Pre-Chaining and
Food Chaining. Cheri has lectured on pediatric feeding disorders at ASHA, the UCLA/UMH Nutrition
Leadership Conference, The American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, The
North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the 2004
World Congress of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition in Paris, France. She is the
co-author of the books “Evaluation and Treatment of Pediatric Feeding Disorders: From NICU to
Childhood” and "Food Chaining: The Six Step Solution to Stop Picky Eating, Solve Feeding Problems
and Expand Your Child's Diet." Cheri specializes in evaluation and treatment of pediatric feeding
disorders and is lead therapist for the pediatric feeding team clinic at The Center for Selective
Eating and Pediatric Feeding Disorders and the SIU-Koke Mill Pediatric Swallowing Clinic in
Springfield, Illinois.
Laura Walbert, CCC/SLP, CLC is an ASHA certified pediatric speech pathologist who earned her
Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Eastern Illinois
University, Charleston, Illinois, 1996 . Laura’s work in feeding is recognized internationally in
medical journal periodicals and conference presentations on pediatric feeding disorders. Laura has
also presented on evaluation and treatment of athlete’s with vocal cord dysfunction. She is the coauthor of the books “Evaluation and Treatment of Pediatric Feeding Disorders: From NICU to
Childhood” and “Food Chaining: The Six Step Solution to Stop Picky Eating, Solve Feeding Problems
and Expand Your Child's Diet."
Cheri and Laura have presented together for over 20 years. They recently presented their
PreChaining programs at the 2009 Neonatal Nutrition Conference and The Neonatal Update
Conference at UMass in 2010. Laura is a certified lactation consultant and she specializes in
treatment of breastfeeding problems, selective eating and pediatric dysphagia. She provides
therapy services at The Center for Selective Eating and Pediatric Feeding Disorders and is part of
the diagnostic team for the SIU-Koke Mill Pediatric Swallowing Clinic in Springfield, Illinois.
This two-day course in October will focus on assessment and treatment feeding problems in
infants, toddlers and children. Topics covered include: anatomy of feeding aversion; feeding
therapy baby care basics; successful transition to table foods; toddlers’ eating from ages 2 to 6;
meeting nutrition needs for infants, toddlers & children; case histories; analysis and
development of team treatment plans for infants and toddlers; picky versus problem eating;
problem-solving, referrals and the team approach to feeding aversion therapy; in-depth case
history, analysis of the problem & development of team treatment programs for children.
This class will provide CE credits for Speech Language Pathologists and Occupational
Therapists. For more info about registration, please contact Krissy Brawner at
k.brawner@cofk.com.