Resource
Cleft Community Resource Hub
The brainchild of Operation Smile Ambassador Carmit Bachar, this space is built with compassion, expertise and collaboration at its core, and it will grow through the voices and experiences of our community.
Getting Care
Operation Smile provides comprehensive cleft care in 37 countries around the world. Patients interested in receiving care from Operation Smile should visit Where We Work to learn more.
Operation Smile does not provide care in the United States, instead working with individuals in countries where many barriers prevent access to surgical and comprehensive care for cleft conditions.
Patients in the U.S. may find help from some of the following resources:
- Cleft Palate Foundation: 800-242-5338, http://www.cleftline.org/
- AmeriFACE: 888-486-1209, http://www.ameriface.org/
- Cleft Advocate: 800-486-1209, www.cleftadvocate.org
- American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association: https://acpa-cpf.org/acpa-family-services/find-a-team/
- Families USA: 202-628-3030, http://familiesusa.org/about
- National Patient Advocate Foundation: 202-628-3030, https://www.npaf.org/
Operation Smile’s Cleft Resource Hub connects individuals with cleft conditions, and their families, to a global community of support, information, and hope for a healthy future.
— Dr. Ruben Ayala, Chief of Policy and Advocacy, Operation Smile
National Network of Cleft Specialty Teams for Adults
In addition, the National Network of Cleft Specialty Teams for Adults is a growing resource designed to help adults born with cleft lip, cleft palate and craniofacial differences identify multidisciplinary care teams across the United States.
While many patients receive coordinated care throughout childhood, access to specialized adult cleft and craniofacial care can become more difficult to navigate as individuals transition out of pediatric systems. This network connects patients, families and providers to hospitals, clinics and specialty teams that continue care beyond childhood, including programs with adult age eligibility.
By centralizing information on team locations and age ranges, the platform helps create greater visibility and accessibility for adults seeking continued cleft and craniofacial care. This initiative reflects a growing recognition within the cleft and craniofacial community that comprehensive care often extends far beyond childhood and into adulthood.
Please note that Operation Smile does not endorse any specific offices or clinics in the network.
Additional Resources
For More Information About the Cleft Community Resource Hub
Reach out to Melany Bishop at melany.bishop[@]operationsmile.org
Learn More About Operation Smile
Check out the information below to learn more about our work bridging the gap in access to care, starting with cleft surgery and comprehensive care.
Our Story and Impact
Operation Smile works hand-in-hand with local communities to expand access to care by providing educational programs and free, life-changing cleft care.
Thought Leadership
Our research initiatives encompass a wide variety of topics covering cleft-specific and general surgical care, including epidemiology, genetics, barriers to care, surgical outcomes, leadership, health systems, policy, and education and training.
News and Media
Read the latest news from our work around the world.