Joining with Families for Feeding Success
Kids Feeding Clinic
We are a specialized program at Kidsource Therapy that assesses and treats children with Pediatric Feeding Disorder. Our mission is to not only provide feeding therapy for the child, but to help each family learn techniques to help their child progress toward a healthy diet with a positive relationship with food and less stress at mealtimes. Our team of multi-displinary, specially-trained therapists includes Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and a Pediatric Psychologist. We offer two distinct programs for specialized feeding therapy, designed to meet the unique needs of each family.
Let's work together to take the stress out of your child's eating
What is Pediatric Feeding Disorder?
Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) refers to an “impaired oral intake that is not age-appropriate and is associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skills, and/or psychosocial dysfunction.” – Feeding Matters
The Four Factors of PFD
- Feeding involves 13 pairs of muscles, 6 cranial nerves, all sensory systems and all organs of the body. When there is an impairment to these systems, feeding is affected.
- Medical factors may include, but are not limited to, impaired structure/function of the GI system (reflux, delayed emptying, EoE.), the cardiorespiratory system (congenital heart disease or chronic lung disease) or the neurological system (seizures or cerebral palsy).
- Medical factors can include Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder.
- Nutrition is the foundation for growth and development. Nutrition includes both oral and enteral (tube) feeding.
- Nutritional factors may look like restricted quality, quantity and/or variety of liquids or solids consumed.
- Nutritional Dysfunction may cause malnutrition, overnutrition, micronutrient deficiency or toxicity and/or dehydration.
- Feeding skills involve the ability to eat safely, effectively, and comfortably. These skills depend on sensory processing and motor coordination—including oral and fine motor abilities—which enable functions like sucking, biting, chewing, and swallowing. Developmental delays, medical conditions, or injury can impact these abilities.
- Feeding skill factors may look like oral motor delays and over- or under- responsiveness to sensory input.
- Feeding Skill Dysfunction may cause prolonged mealtimes, difficulty progressing through textures, need for modified textures, difficulty tolerating foods, and need for nutritional supplements.
- These are factors within the child, caregiver, and the feeding environment that affect feeding.
- Psychosocial factors include developmental factors (delays in motor skills, cognition, social and/or language skills), mental and behavioral health problems, social influences (cultural expectations; caregiver/child interactions), and environmental factors (distracting environment, inconsistent mealtime schedule, food insecurity).
- Psychosocial Dysfunction may cause learned feeding aversion, disruptive behaviors, caregivers to use inappropriate strategies, grazing, and food selectivity.
Feeding Therapy Services
- Bottle feeding
- Breastfeeding
- Transitioning to Spoon-Feeding
- Transitioning to Solids
- Low Volume of Oral Intake Causing Difficulty Gaining Weight
- Avoidance of Certain Tastes or Textures
- Feeding Difficulties Due to Prematurity, Genetic Factors, Trauma or Medical Diagnosis
- History of Enteral Feeds (Tube Feeds) or Supplemental Oral Feeds
- Oral Motor Weaknesses, Muscle Tone Abnormalities, or Structural Deviations Causing Difficulty Feeding
Therapy Specialties & Approaches
- VitalStim Therapy
- Myofunctional Therapy
- Lactation Counseling
- SOS Approach to Feeding Therapy
- Beckman Oral Motor Protocol
- Food Chaining
- Tethered Oral Tissues (Tongue Ties and/or Lip Ties)
- Infant Feeding
- Trauma-Informed Nutrition
- Feeding Tube Weaning
KIDS Feeding Clinic Programs
Specialized Feeding Program
The Specialized Feeding Program is here to help children of all ages who are having a hard time eating—whether it’s due to medical needs, nutrition concerns, difficulty with feeding skills, or other factors within the child, caregiver or feeding environment that can affect mealtimes. To get started, your child will need a feeding evaluation by a speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist. We’re here to guide and support your family every step of the way.
- Includes one therapy session per week, continuing for up to a year or until reevaluation
- Child works consistently with our multidisciplinary Feeding Team
- Caregivers are actively involved throughout the treatment process
- Psychological consultations may be recommended based on individual needs
- Sessions are available either in our clinic or in your home
- $5/month food fee- May be covered by First Connections for children under 3
- Sessions are billed through the child’s approved funding source
Specialized Intensive Feeding Program
The Specialized Intensive Feeding Program is designed for children age 2 and up who avoid certain foods or textures, often because they’re extra sensitive—or not very responsive—to the way things look, taste, feel, or smell. To see if this program is the right fit, your child will need a feeding evaluation by a speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist, along with a recommendation from our KIDS Feeding Clinic Team. We’re here to support your family with care that’s personalized, practical, and full of encouragement. Families can enroll in the Specialized Intensive Feeding Program only once per year. Many families choose to enroll in the Specialized Feeding Program either before or after the intensive program for continued support along their child’s feeding journey.
- Offered during select Spring, Summer, and Fall sessions
- Includes two therapy sessions per week for 8 weeks (Summer) or 12 weeks (Spring/Fall)
- Child works closely with our multidisciplinary Feeding Team
- Caregiver participation is required at every session
- Weekly psychologist visits are included during one of the child’s sessions
- Sessions are held in purpose-built feeding spaces at our Benton KIDS Feeding Clinic
- One-time food fee: $35 (Summer) or $50 (Spring/Fall) - May be covered by First Connections for children under age 3
- Treatment sessions are billed through the child’s approved funding source
At the heart of our feeding program is a commitment to supporting the whole family—not just the child. We focus not only on effective treatment sessions, but also on empowering caregivers with practical tools and strategies to promote healthy eating habits, reduce mealtime stress, and build a positive relationship with food. Our program emphasizes transparency and collaboration, requiring parent participation in every session. Each family receives individualized support from our multidisciplinary team of feeding specialists, including Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and a Pediatric Psychologist.
The KIDS Feeding Clinic program stands as the sole feeding initiative in Arkansas that integrates the mental health expertise of a pediatric psychologist with the specialized feeding skills knowledge of pediatric speech and occupational therapists, thereby offering a comprehensive, family-centered approach. Dr. Janine Watson, a mental health professional affiliated with Reach Behavioral Health—a sister organization of Kidsource Therapy—collaborates closely with the KIDS Feeding Clinic. Clients and their families who receive counseling therapy services through Dr. Watson as part of the KIDS Feeding Clinic programs will be under the care of both Kidsource Therapy and Reach Behavioral Health.
Our Team
Christina West, M.A., CCC-SLP
Christina West, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a seasoned speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of experience in pediatric therapy. She is the founder and coordinator of the KIDS Feeding Clinic at Kidsource Therapy, where she specializes in supporting children with complex feeding challenges through evidence-based, family-centered care.
Christina earned her master’s degree from Louisiana Tech University in 2003 and has been with Kidsource Therapy ever since. She holds certifications in Lactation Counseling and VitalStim Therapy, and has completed extensive training in areas including infant feeding, food chaining, tethered oral tissues (TOTs), tube feeding, sensory-based feeding therapy, kinesiology taping, and parent coaching. She is trained in both the SOS Approach to Feeding and the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol—core methods used throughout the KIDS Feeding Clinic.
Christina is committed to advancing feeding therapy services in Arkansas and to equipping families with the tools and support they need to help their children thrive.
Jenifer Applegate, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and pediatric feeding specialist at Kidsource Therapy, where she serves as a Team Lead for the Hot Springs clinic.
With six years of experience, Jenifer specializes in feeding and swallowing disorders through her work with the Kidsource Feeding Clinic. She has completed advanced training in several highly regarded programs, including the SOS Approach to Feeding, Feed the Peds by Hallie Bulkin, and The Myo Method (Myofunctional Therapy). Her training also includes multiple TalkTools certifications such as Feeding Therapy: A Sensory-Motor Approach, Infant Feeding: Baby-Focused, Family-Centered Strategies and Solutions, Feeding Foundations: The Kaleidoscope Model, and A Three-Part Treatment Plan for Oral Placement Therapy.
Jenifer provides practical, research-informed therapy that empowers families and supports each child’s unique feeding journey.
Jenifer Applegate, M.S., CCC-SLP
Kasie Birdwell, M.S., CCC-SLP
Kasie Birdwell, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a highly experienced speech-language pathologist and pediatric feeding specialist with over 20 years in the field. She currently serves as the Speech Therapy Discipline Director at Kidsource Therapy, where she has been a valued team member for more than 12 years.
Kasie specializes in the assessment and treatment of complex pediatric feeding disorders and early communication development of infants and toddlers. She holds certifications in the SOS Approach to Feeding, DIR/Floortime, Myofunctional Therapy, Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTS), and the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, and has acquired a significant amount of hours in other advanced trainings in Pediatric Feeding Disorders (PFD). Her clinical approach is playful and child-led, rooted in family-centered care with an emphasis on collaboration in trans-disciplinary intervention to support the child and family holistically.
Kasie advances clinical excellence in speech therapy by mentoring therapists and promoting the latest best practices in pediatric care.
With over 20 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist, Jennifer Green, M.A., CCC-SLP, specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. She provides trauma-informed, family-centered care as part of the pediatric feeding clinic at Kidsource’s Benton location.
Jennifer holds a master’s degree from Louisiana Tech University and has completed advanced training in food chaining, dysphagia, infant feeding, myofunctional therapy, and trauma-informed nutrition. She is trained in both the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol and the SOS Approach to Feeding, equipping her to support children with a wide range of complex feeding needs.
Jennifer is dedicated to empowering caregivers through education and collaboration to help each child reach their full potential in a supportive and nurturing environment.
Jennifer Green, M.A., CCC-SLP
Dr. Janine Watson, Ph.D.
Dr. Janine Watson, Ph.D., is a pediatric psychologist with over 25 years of experience specializing in feeding therapy for children with complex needs, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder and a history of trauma. She joined Reach Behavioral Health and Kidsource Therapy in 2023, bringing decades of expertise from her previous work at the Dennis Development Center in Little Rock.
Dr. Watson earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1987. She has completed training in multiple feeding therapy approaches, including the SOS Approach to Feeding, and continues to apply evidence-based, trauma-informed strategies to support children and families facing feeding challenges.
You’re Not Alone
We know mealtimes can feel overwhelming, and we’re here to help. Call us today or fill out our simple form to take the first step.