Faces The National Craniofacial Association

THE NATIONAL CRANIOFACIAL ASSOCIATION SERVES CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES WITH SERVERE CRANIOFACIAL DEFORMITIES RESULTING FROM BIRTH DEFECTS, INJURIES, OR DISEASE BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION AND SUPPORT NETWORKS, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CONCERNING SPECIFIC CRANIOFACIAL DISORDERS. FACES HOSTS A YEARLY SUMMER CAMP FOR KIDS AND TEENS WITH CRANIOFACIAL DIFFERENCES CALLES FACES CAMP. FACES IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF FACE EQUALITY INTERNATIONAL AND STRIVES TO BRING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF FACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND THE NEED FOR EQUALITY.

FACES PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR EXPENSES INCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AWAY FROM HOME TO A CRANIOFACIAL CENTER FOR RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY. THIS ASSISTANCE IS OFFERED ON THE BASIS OF FINANCIAL AND MEDICAL NEED AND INCLUDES TRANSPORTATION, LODGING, PARKING, FOOD, AND TOLL FEES FOR A CHILD AND ONE ACCOMPANYING PARENT (TOTAL: APPROXIMATELY $33,000.00). FACES PROVIDES YEARLY INFORMATION AND UPDATES TO EVERY HOSPITAL IN THE UNITED STATES WITH A LABOR AND DELIVERY UNIT. EACH PACKET OUTLINES THE SERVICES THAT FACES CAN PROVIDE TO NEW PARENTS WHOSE BABIES ARE BORN WITH CRANIOFACIAL ANOMALIES AND INCLUDES INFORMATION THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO THESE NEW PARENTS BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE HOSPITAL. FACES TOUCHED THE LIVES OF APPROXIMATELY 27,000 PEOPLE DURING THIS PAST YEAR BY PROVIDING LAY-FRIENDLY INFORMATION AND SUPPORT FOR RARE CRANIOFACIAL BIRTH DEFECTS. FACES MAINTAINS CURRENT INFORMATION ON LOCATIONS OF SPECIALIZED CRANIOFACIAL MEDICAL CENTERS, ON SPECIFIC CRANIOFACIAL ANOMALIES, AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON SUPPORT NETWORKS AND OTHER RESOURCES AS THEY ARE DEVELOPED. FACES ALSO PROVIDES A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER THAT INCLUDES INFORMATION ON CRANIOFACIAL DISORDERS AND CURRENT RESEARCH AND CLINICAL TRIALS. FACES STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WERE ABLE TO MAKE A NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS TO COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST IN AN EFFORT TO TEACH THE GENERAL PUBLIC MORE ABOUT CRANIOFACIAL CONDITIONS AND THOSE WHO HAVE THEM. THE STAFF REGULARLY PARTICIPATES IN FORUMS AT UNIVERSITIES WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION MAJORS AND SPEECH PATHOLOGY STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE STAFF WAS INVITED TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN WITH CRANIOFACIAL BIRTH DEFECTS TO GENETIC RESEARCHERS AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.