AmeriFace - a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information, emotional support, and educational programs to individuals who have a facial disfigurement, and to their families.

Craniofacial Teams in Virginia - A list of craniofacial teams in Virginia and surrounding areas. Virginia Smiles encourages parents to choose their child's craniofacial team of care with a great deal of thought and research. Virginia Smiles encourages parents to interview all craniofacial teams in their area before deciding which team will care for their child. This list is from the Cleft Palate Foundation.

Cleft Advocate - An online resource that provides a wealth of information about advocating for those born with cleft lip/palate.

Cleft Palate Foundation - Provides a definition of the craniofacial team of care, as well as other helpful information and pamphlets on how to care for an individual with cleft lip/palate.

Infant Toddler Connection Programs in Virginia – Infants born in Virginia with a CLEFT PALATE automatically qualify for the early intervention services of the Infant Toddler Connection. These services are especially important to infants born with a cleft palate because during their first year of life, their feeding methods and instruments change several times as they go through their repair surgeries. Many surgeons require that infants restrain their arms for a period of time after surgery so the baby won’t touch or affect the surgical area. The early intervention services will help the baby through these changes in feeding, as well as get those arm muscles moving again after being restrained. The early intervention services also help the infant with the early speech and language development. Contact your local Infant and Toddler Connection office and schedule an evaluation as soon as your baby is born. Find the appropriate contact information by visiting www.infantva.org.

Insurance Commissioner of Virginia - The Virginia Bureau of Insurance (VABOI) is a division of the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The Insurance Commissioner for Virginia is Alfred W. Gross. The regulatory mission of the VABOI is to ensure that citizens of the Commonwealth are provided with access to adequate and reliable insurance protection; that the insurance companies that sell policies are financially sound to support payment of claims; that the agents who sell company policies are qualified and conduct their business according to statutory and regulatory requirements, as well as acceptable standards of conduct; and that the insurance policies are of high quality, understandable, and fairly priced. In addition, the VABOI licenses, regulates, investigates, and examines insurance companies, agencies, and agents on behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VABOI also examines and investigates title insurance settlement agents and agencies for compliance with the Consumer Real Estate Settlement Protection Act.

If you are unhappy with your health insurance company for any reason, please submit your comment to Insurance Commissioner Gross.

Virginia Bureau of Insurance
Tyler Building
1300 East Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Toll Free Phone: (Virginia Only) 1-800-552-7945

La Leche League - Contact a lactation consultant in your area who can answer your questions about pumping and storing breast milk, and feeding infants born with cleft palate breast milk from a bottle.

March of Dimes - Information about birth defects and their occurrences, and how to prevent them.

Michigan Cleft
"Support Around the Country for Families of Children Born with a Cleft Lip and Palate: Michigan

Wide Smiles - An online resource that shares information about caring for an individual born with a cleft lip/palate.

Videos
"A Beautiful Child," Virginia Smiles' video produced by Blueberry Shoes Productions.
"Understanding Cleft Lip and Palate, a Guide for New Parents," produced by the Foundation for Faces of Children
"Facing Cleft: Understanding Cleft Lip and Palate," produced by Danya International, Inc.