The SOS Approach to Feeding Program offers comprehensive training to help you take your feeding therapy to the next level.
The SOS Approach to Feeding is a Transdisciplinary Program designed to assess and treat children experiencing difficulties with feeding and/or weight/growth. It was developed across three decades of clinical work by Dr. Kay Toomey, along with colleagues from several disciplines, including Pediatricians, Occupational Therapists, Registered Dietitians, and Speech Pathologists, and is informed by the latest research in the field.
This program adopts a holistic approach, integrating motor, oral-motor, learning, medical, sensory, and nutritional factors, to identify the underlying causes and skill deficits contributing to a child’s feeding and growth challenges. It is based on, and grounded philosophically in, using typical development as our “blueprint and map” to help teach the needed skills for eating, while recognizing that each child’s individual neural capacity, learning abilities, physical needs, and environment may mean that they have a different path. The SOS Approach to Feeding is designed to meet every child at their current level, building upon their strengths to achieve the next skill.
Level 1: The SOS Approach to Feeding Main Training Conference
Attendees receive foundational information regarding feeding development, evaluation, and SOS Treatment.
Training is delivered hybrid (online and in-person segments) and live, in-person through lectures, case presentations, and group activities.
Attendees receive a Certificate of Attendance that is eligible for submission to Professional Organization for Continuing Education Hours earned during course.
Included with the completion of the SOS Main Training Conference, participants receive:
Free listing on the SOS Referral List. The SOS Referral List connects SOS Trained Therapists with families and colleagues around the world.
Ongoing support through an SOS Professional Facebook Group where SOS Trained Therapists can ask questions of the SOS Professors and participate in discussions with other colleagues.
Monthly Facebook Live Q&A Events with Dr. Kay Toomey.
Free quarterly SOS Feeding Steps Newsletter filled with ideas and tips for implementing the SOS Approach to Feeding in your therapy setting.
SOS Presentations created by Dr. Toomey to help you share information on the SOS Approach to Feeding with your colleagues, families and medical community.
Level 2: Advanced SOS Training via Online Workshops
These workshops provide advanced techniques that address special populations and specialized topics in feeding, allowing you to gain additional information relevant to your setting.
Training is delivered online through an on-demand webinar.
Upon completion, attendees receive a Certificate of Attendance for Continuing Education Hours earned during the individual workshop(s) taken.
Workshops topics include:
Children with Gastroesophageal Reflux
Feeding the 6-16 Month Old Child
Feeding the Child on the Autism Spectrum
Food Scientist Model: SOS Approach to Feeding Adaptation for the School-Aged Child
Food Tolerance Decision Making
Helping Children Achieve and Maintain the Just Right Arousal Space for Learning
Helping Children Transition Off Supplemental Tube Feedings
Lunchables to Lunch and Variety to Volume
Parents as Partners: Helping the “Challenging” Family
Setting Up A Feeding Clinic As A Business
Tools in Your Pantry: Effectively Using the New Oral-Motor Steps to Eating
Working with Children with Severe Developmental Impairments
Participants receive higher-level information regarding the implementation of the SOS Approach To Feeding program into different practice settings, additional clinical reasoning considerations for treatment planning, and in-depth discussions regarding SOS Treatment.
Participants receive personalized guidance and feedback regarding the use of the SOS Approach to Feeding in their setting and with their clinical caseload.
Training is delivered through lectures, case presentations, group activities, clinical discussions, and homework assignments.
Upon completion, attendees receive a Certificate of Attendance that is eligible for Professional Development Hours or Continuing Education Hours earned during course. Attendees must verify directly with their professional organization to confirm eligibility and continuing education credit availability before registering for the course. AOTA and ASHA CE provided.
Attendees receive expert-level information in the implementation of the SOS Approach.
Training is delivered through individualized mentoring and feedback regarding participant’s use of the SOS Approach in treatment through Case Study Presentations.
Attendees will demonstrate mastery of understanding of the SOS Approach and the ability to utilize the SOS Philosophies in treatment.
Attendees receive a Certificate of Attendance for Continuing Education Hours earned during the course. Attendees must verify with their professional organization to confirm eligibility and continuing education credit availability before registration. AOTA and ASHA CE provided.
Attendees receive a Certification of SOS Practice upon successful completion of the course, with documentation of mastery of an advanced level of clinical reasoning and knowledge in the SOS Approach to Feeding program.
The practitioner is considered an SOS Certified Therapist.
Upon successful completion, attendees are eligible to request permission to conduct research using the SOS Approach to Feeding.
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