Whether you have already brought your little one home, or are just now contemplating adopting a child with a cleft lip and/or palate or other craniofacial anomaly, we hope you will find the following information useful.
Please submit links and information for this page to debbie@cleftadvocate.org.
We subscribe to the HONcode principles of The Health On Net Foundation
This cleftAdvocate page was last updated 3/25/2014
If you're bringing home an infant or even a toddler with an unrepaired cleft, start here to learn the basics.
We can't stress more the importance of consulting a cleft/craniofacial team. Familiarize yourself with the makings of a team and the specialists who will work together to care for your child. Then click on the map to go to your state's page to find local teams, medical and educational resources and more!
Here you will find the infant and toddler feeding options available to you.
Looking for cleft palate feeders? Arm restraints for post-op care? Surgery and treatment resources? You'll find it here, and much more!
The cornerstone of the cleftAdvocate and Pathfinder outreach programs, you'll meet hundreds of families from all over the country and the world, ready to share their experiences with you! Introduce yourself, ask questions and make friends who will support you every step of the way! There are birth parents and adoptive parents at the Family-to-Family Connection.
Support for families that have adopted a child or children with cleft lip and/or palate internationally. The list is not directly related to cleftAdvocate and is not intended to replace listservs that provide general cleft-related support.
Click over and meet members of the cleftAdvocate family! Smiling faces, progress photos and great introductions from our families. Use the contact information to ask questions of families who have "been there, done that".
Inspirational, in-depth stories written for families, by families.
Great articles, useful resources and up-to-date information on upcoming conferences will help keep you in the loop. Subscribe today!
We'll be happy to match you with a Pathfinder family who has faced similar challenges, has gone through the stages you face today with your child, and, if possible, someone who lives in your area. We're here to answer all your questions and help you feel more at ease as you begin your journey.
To come...thank you for your patience!
Congratulations!
And welcome! We are very glad you're here!
Adoption-specific Information
Information and publications
From the US Department of Health and Human Services
From the US Department of Health and Human Services
Focuses on adoption opportunities for children throughout the US for children with special needs
Licensed private adoption agencies providing adoption services for children in various countries
Resources for families adopting a child from another country
Comeunity is well-known for its in-depth articles and resources for international adoption and special needs adoption.
Great information, helpful articles and a monthly magazine
Internet adoption resources
Includes a list of adoption listservs for international adoption & adoptees
Financial Information and Resources
Financial resources for prospective adoptive families
From the US Department of Labor
From the Federal Citizen Information Center
Domestic and intercountry adoption costs from the US Department of Health and Human Services
Tax credits, employer benefits, adoption loans and more
From the US Department of Health and Human Services
From the US Office of Personnel Management
Adoption of Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN)
cleftAdvocate
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