Ep 336: Feeding Therapy in Schools: Safety, Culture, and Collaboration with Karen Howarth

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin interviews Karen Howarth, a pediatric occupational therapist with 25 years of experience — and our new resident OT mentor inside Feed The Peds®.

They dive into Karen’s work in feeding therapy within school settings, including the development of the MEALS screening tool, the unique challenges of providing feeding therapy in schools, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.

Karen also highlights the need for cultural sensitivity in feeding practices, shares strategies for supporting parents through feelings of guilt, and discusses how feeding challenges can impact a child’s educational experience. She explains how collaboration with school staff ensures children’s safety and access to nutrition during the school day.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️The MEALS screening tool addresses mealtime challenges in schools.

✔️Engagement in mealtime is as important as physical feeding skills.

✔️School-based feeding therapy requires a multidisciplinary approach.

✔️Cultural sensitivity is crucial in addressing feeding practices.

✔️Parents often experience guilt regarding their child's feeding difficulties.

✔️Educational impact is a key consideration in IEPs.

✔️Collaboration with school staff is essential for effective feeding interventions

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Episode 286: It’s Not Your Fault with Hallie Bulkin, MA CCC-SLP, CMT®, CPFT™  
• Episode 318: Feed The Peds®: The Mission with Hallie Bulkin, MA CCC-SLP, CMT®, CPFT™

✨ FREE TRAINING ALERT – HAPPENING SEPTEMBER 8–10!

If you’re an SLP, OT, or student… you need to join me for the FREE 3-Day Pediatric Feeding Screening Training. Over 34,000 of your colleagues have done it — now it’s your turn!

Here’s what you’ll get when you sign up:

• 4 hours on a certificate of completion (perfect for your renewal hours)
• My complete pediatric feeding screening packet — development chart, 50-symptom checklist, findings chart & referral form
• A chance to win a full scholarship to the 12-week Feed The Peds® course

Grab your spot here → www.feedthepeds.com/training

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN

• 📅 Doors to Feed The Peds® open Sept 15–19 | join the waitlist
• 🍼 Ready to deep-dive into tethered oral tissues? Check out Tongue Tie Bootcamp
• 💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

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