Feeding and Families: A Conversation About Feeding and Eating in Early Intervention
Presented by
Stephanie Cohen, MA, CCC-SLP, CLC and
Karen Dilfer, MS, OTR/L, C/NDT
Children learn to eat through participation in developmentally appropriate family mealtime routines with caregivers they trust. Children develop functional eating skills if they gain experience, competence, and confidence. When this process is interrupted by the impact of medical challenges, developmental differences, or psychosocial dysfunction, children miss out on crucial learning opportunities. Caregivers often experience increased stress, confusion, and frustration. Early Intervention teams are in a unique position to be able to support these families holistically throughout daily mealtime routines. The importance of trust in relationships between parents and children, between team members and family members, and between members of the IFSP team will be discussed. Evidence-based practice will also be emphasized.
Important Registration Information
Tickets are available for Parent/Caregivers, Students, or Professionals. Please use the appropriate ticket for your role. Professional are asked to register individually (not as as group).
Where Can I Find The Event Link?
The event link will be included in the confirmation email you receive upon registration. A second email with the link will be sent out when registration closes 24 hours before the live event time.
Time & Date
Please note this event is taking place at 6:30 pm Central Time, and will be held virtually via Zoom. To find out what time this is where you live, look here. Registration will close at 5:00 pm Central Time on Monday 5/19/2025. **Please check your spam folder as our emails occasionally end up there.**
CEU Credits
This course is being submitted for credit with the Illinois Early Intervention Program. Please check with your local professional organization to determine additional professional education credit. Those who have paid for a professional ticket and are in attendance for the duration of the full event will receive a certificate of attendance for credit. Those who registered for a student ticket will also receive a certificate, however these will not be eligible for CEUs.
Financial Assistance
Should cost be a concern that would hinder your participation, we may be able to offer financial assistance. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Lindsay Hoffer at lindsay@chicagofeedinggroup.org
Cancellation Policy
Requests to cancel registration for a live course must be made in writing via email to hello@chicagofeedinggroup.org at least 2 days prior to the course date/time. Timely cancellation requests will be honored by a refund of the registration fee minus a $5 administrative fee. Questions regarding cancellations may be directed to hello@chicagofeedinggroup.org.
About Stephanie Cohen, M.A., CCC-SLP, CLC
Stephanie is a speech-language pathologist and lactation counselor in private practice who has worked with children with complex medical needs and their families for more than 19 years. Stephanie has advanced training in feeding and swallowing disorders; she specializes in working with the 0-3 population and is passionate about helping families of children with feeding and swallowing disorders find ways to make mealtimes more successful and enjoyable. Stephanie has a bachelor of arts and a master of science degree from Northwestern University. She is a credentialed evaluator and provider in IL Early Intervention. Stephanie speaks about a variety of topics, including typical and atypical feeding development, responsive feeding, and trauma-informed feeding assessment and treatment. She enjoys mentoring, collaborating, and teaching. Stephanie lives in Northbrook with her husband and three children.
About Karen Dilfer, M.S., OTR/L, C/NDT
Karen is an occupational therapist, feeding specialist, and food enthusiast. She has a strong pediatric background and loves to help children with motor, sensory, and mealtime challenges. Karen received her Masters of Science degree from Washington University in St. Louis and is Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) trained. She also completed post-graduate education in Sensory Integration. Karen has worked with Marsha Dunn Klein, M.Ed., OTR/L, a leading expert in the field of pediatric feeding and creator of the “Get Permission” Approach to Mealtimes. Karen works in private practice and Early Intervention in the Chicagoland area.