Mini Munchers Clinical Training Program

This experiential, two-day course delved into pediatric feeding and swallowing function, offering participants the knowledge and tools needed to evaluate and address oral-motor and swallowing issues in infants and children. It emphasized the integration of cultural competence and diversity considerations in assessment and intervention so participants could provide inclusive and sensitive care.

The course covered analysis of infant and child oral-motor and swallowing function, informed treatment recommendations, therapy-plan development, and identification of signs and symptoms of dysphagia and dysphagia risk. Participants worked with real pediatric patients at the Swallowing Wellness Center, 4641 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 300, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

Role-playing scenarios addressed real-life situations, including making the presentation of barium child-friendly, creating a sensory-friendly environment, counseling families, and communicating with other healthcare providers.

Moderate-to-complex pediatric feeding cases were used to identify barriers to feeding progression, prioritize culturally responsive treatment strategies, set appropriate goals, and integrate Modified Barium Swallow Study findings with the interrelated systems of the whole child and family dynamic.

Emma Justice, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, NTMTC, is the founder and lead clinician at Justice For Infant Feeding Therapy and Lactation. She specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing, especially NICU graduates and culturally diverse populations, and is certified in lactation counseling and neonatal touch and massage.

She earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Northeastern University and completed her clinical fellowship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Her experience includes Level II and III NICUs, PICU, pediatric oncology, outpatient pediatrics, cleft and craniofacial care, aerodigestive care, pediatric rehabilitation, home health, and feeding in public schools. She is a guest lecturer, the primary pediatric consultant for Swallowing Wellness, an active member of ASHA’s Pediatric Feeding Disorders topic committee, and a member of a Boston March of Dimes committee. She has presented nationally on pediatric dysphagia.

Ianessa Humbert, Ph.D., SLP is a world-renowned scientist, researcher, educator, and highly sought-after speaker with expertise in swallowing and swallowing disorders. Her teaching philosophy requires attendees to question everything they think they know before learning can begin. Her innovative training style has been funded by ASHFoundation and extends to non-traditional learning formats. She co-created Down the Hatch, co-founded STEP, and is CEO of Swallowing Wellness.

The original course cost was $880 and was listed for 1.2 ASHA CEUs. Swallowing Wellness offered payment plans for in-person courses: participants could request the dollar amounts and payment dates that suited them, received a separate invoice for each payment, and had to pay the full registration cost before the course start date.