Making a world of difference in a world of facial differences...

We'd like to let you know about an exciting cleft/craniofacial outreach training opportunity in your area.

If you have ever thought about helping other families facing the many challenges of living with craniofacial conditions, please join us!

Your Hosts
This Pathfinder Outreach Workshop is hosted by AboutFace USA, cleftAdvocate and Virginia Smiles.

When?
Saturday November 10, 2007
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Lunch and snacks provided
Childcare provided with reservation only; advise by Nov. 2, 2007

Where?
Joseph Willard Health Center
(Location of the Infant Toddler Connection of Fairfax-Falls Church)
3750 Old Lee Hwy
Fairfax, VA 22030

Reservations Required!
Space is limited, so make your reservation NOW!
RSVP no later than Friday, November 2, 2007!
E-mail Paula Miller at pnmiller@cox.net to confirm your attendance.

What is a Pathfinder?

This beautiful piece is titled Bridging the Gap by Metin Bereketli, Official Artist of the North American Craniofacial Family Conference (NACFC). Click here for more information!

Whether it's a call from a new parent whose child was born with a craniofacial condition or an e-mail from a care provider seeking emotional support for a client, our volunteers make themselves available via phone, e-mail and sometimes even in person to provide information and guidance.

Pathfinders provide feeding and nutrition information, contact information for cleft/craniofacial teams and referrals to state and local resources to assist individuals and families throughout their journey. They can provide information about specific conditions or point families in the right direction for additional educational materials.

Equally as important, Pathfinders work to provide a safe haven for individuals and families to express their feelings and ask questions not usually addressed by medical and other professionals. Many develop friendships beyond the circumstances that initially brought them together.

A Pathfinder match is made considering geography, similarity of condition, age of the patient or a combination of these factors. It's important to understand that in this age of technology, a Pathfinder doesn't have to live in the same city or state as the family they are assisting. Our goal is to deliver much-needed information in the shortest timeframe and provide a shoulder to lean on in times of crisis, whether that assistance comes from across the country or from within the immediate community.

First and foremost, Pathfinders assist individuals and families on a one-to-one basis. However, some Pathfinders also work to develop local/regional networks by coordinating outreach efforts and organizing social gatherings. Others speak to medical and other professionals (including labor and delivery departments, cleft/craniofacial teams, nursing students, civic groups and more) about the needs of patients and families. However, our network was built one family at a time, and personal, one-to-one assistance is always the focus of our efforts.

Learn more about the Pathfinder Outreach Network!

Pathfinder training will include these topics:

8:00 - 10:00 AM
The Pathfinder Outreach Network - An Overview
Understanding Your Role as a Pathfinder
Working with Your Cleft/Craniofacial Team
Social and Cultural Diversity
Skills and Resources
Outreach Dos and Don'ts, HIPAA
Your Valuable Time

10:15 AM - 12:00 Noon
Focus Groups - What Are Your Personal Goals and Interests?
Pathfinders - One-to-One Family Outreach
Pathfinder Coordinators
Education of Medical and Other Professionals
Formal Craniofacial Organizations

12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Lunch - Pizza, salad and beverages provided by AboutFace USA

1:30 - 3:00 PM
Strategic Planning
Do you live in a big city? In a rural community? Outreach techniques that work in one area may not be successful in another part of the state or country.

Whether you're interested in taking referrals that come in through our hotline or want to tell birthing hospitals, ultrasound labs and cleft/craniofacial teams in your community about your outreach efforts, this session will help you plan for the successful launch and maintenance of your local/regional support network.