Focused Approach
Project Title: Public Awareness Campaign for Pediatricians on Behavior Analytic Solutions for Feeding Disorders
Dena Kelly, LPC, BCBA, LBS, is a behavior analyst and Licensed Professional Counselor with nearly two decades of experience supporting children with feeding disorders. As the Founder and CEO of Focused Approach, she has spent her career developing and implementing behavior analytic feeding programs that are practical, compassionate, and rooted in evidence-based strategies. Dena is especially passionate about helping professionals and caregivers understand why children refuse food and how to support meaningful change through individualized interventions.
Her project, Public Awareness Campaign for Pediatricians on Behavior Analytic Solutions for Feeding Disorders, was developed in response to a common concern she hears from families: their child’s feeding issues were dismissed by medical providers because the child followed a typical growth curve. Many pediatricians assume feeding difficulties are just a phase, and when weight becomes a concern, they often turn to nutritional supplements without addressing the root problem. This approach can delay intervention and make things harder for families in the long run.
The goal of this campaign is to help pediatricians recognize the early signs of feeding disorders and understand how behavior analytic strategies can make a real difference. The project includes a one-hour webinar, a downloadable toolkit for identifying and referring children for services, and a targeted digital promotion campaign to raise awareness. All materials will be grounded in behavioral science but designed to be practical and useful for busy medical providers.
This project is built to last beyond the initial funding period. The recorded webinar and toolkit will remain available online, and ongoing partnerships with pediatric networks will help expand its reach. Success will be tracked through webinar attendance, toolkit downloads, and engagement with the promotional campaign.
Dena’s hope is that this initiative will lead to earlier identification and more effective referrals, ultimately improving outcomes for children with feeding disorders and helping families feel seen, heard, and supported from the start.
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