About Children's Craniofacial Association
Click HERE to view CCA's Public Service Announcement!
Children's Craniofacial Association (www.ccakids.org) is a national, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with facial differences and their families. Nationally and internationally, CCA addresses the medical, financial, psychosocial, emotional, and educational concerns relating to craniofacial conditions. CCA's mission is to empower and give hope to individuals and families affected by facial differences. CCA envisions a world where all people are accepted for who they are, not how they look.
CCA disseminates information to educate craniofacial patients and their families, health care providers and the general public regarding craniofacial conditions. By providing this information, CCA also promotes public awareness of craniofacial conditions and social acceptance of individuals with facial disfigurement.
CCA has published a series of seven booklets for parents, which explain various craniofacial conditions and their treatment. The booklets, A Guide To Understanding Apert Syndrome, A Guide To Understanding Craniosynostosis, A Guide To Understanding Hemangiomas, A Guide To Understanding Hemifacial Microsomia, A Guide To Understanding Microtia, A Guide To Understanding Treacher Collins Syndrome, and A Guide To Understanding Facial Palsy are in question/answer format and are written in easy-to-understand text.
Since there are relatively few quality craniofacial centers in the United States, many families must travel to receive this quality care. The treatment of craniofacial patients may require from one to as many as twenty or more surgeries. Therefore, even families with insurance are often unable to meet the financial requirements to travel to receive quality care for their children. CCA offers these families funds for food, travel, and lodging through its financial assistance program. CCA also helps families locate discounted hotel rates as well as donated airfare.
A quarterly newsletter is published to inform readers of CCA activities as well as educate families, donors and interested parties of the latest in craniofacial treatment. The newsletter also addresses issues affecting not only the craniofacial patients but their siblings and parents as well. Subjects such as teasing, grieving and other psychosocial issues are addressed.
The annual Cher’s Family Retreat is held each June to provide craniofacial patients, their siblings and parents an opportunity to interact with others who have endured similar experiences. The unique weekend retreat allows them to share ideas, problems and solutions and make long-lasting friendships. The informal format of this weekend allows time to build new relationships and bonds of understanding and caring, which will lend support through both difficult and good times in the future. The weekend includes informational sessions, visiting local attractions and plenty of time for adults to interact and kids to play.
One of the most important goals of CCA is to promote social acceptance of children and adults with facial disfigurement. We believe that in order for the general public to accept these and any differences, they must see and understand them. With the support of Cher and many of our families, CCA has been featured twice on the Maury Povich Show, had feature articles in People, Teen People, Allure, Abilities (Canada), Family Circle and Parade magazines. Newspaper articles have appeared in The Washington Post, The Dallas Morning News, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Fort Worth Star Telegram, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Rapid City Journal, and the Buffalo Chip Gazette. In addition, CCA is featured under “Family and Friends” and in various press releases on Cher’s official website.
CCA disseminates information to educate craniofacial patients and their families, health care providers and the general public regarding craniofacial conditions. By providing this information, CCA also promotes public awareness of craniofacial conditions and social acceptance of individuals with facial disfigurement.
CCA has published a series of seven booklets for parents, which explain various craniofacial conditions and their treatment. The booklets, A Guide To Understanding Apert Syndrome, A Guide To Understanding Craniosynostosis, A Guide To Understanding Hemangiomas, A Guide To Understanding Hemifacial Microsomia, A Guide To Understanding Microtia, A Guide To Understanding Treacher Collins Syndrome, and A Guide To Understanding Facial Palsy are in question/answer format and are written in easy-to-understand text.
Since there are relatively few quality craniofacial centers in the United States, many families must travel to receive this quality care. The treatment of craniofacial patients may require from one to as many as twenty or more surgeries. Therefore, even families with insurance are often unable to meet the financial requirements to travel to receive quality care for their children. CCA offers these families funds for food, travel, and lodging through its financial assistance program. CCA also helps families locate discounted hotel rates as well as donated airfare.
A quarterly newsletter is published to inform readers of CCA activities as well as educate families, donors and interested parties of the latest in craniofacial treatment. The newsletter also addresses issues affecting not only the craniofacial patients but their siblings and parents as well. Subjects such as teasing, grieving and other psychosocial issues are addressed.
The annual Cher’s Family Retreat is held each June to provide craniofacial patients, their siblings and parents an opportunity to interact with others who have endured similar experiences. The unique weekend retreat allows them to share ideas, problems and solutions and make long-lasting friendships. The informal format of this weekend allows time to build new relationships and bonds of understanding and caring, which will lend support through both difficult and good times in the future. The weekend includes informational sessions, visiting local attractions and plenty of time for adults to interact and kids to play.
One of the most important goals of CCA is to promote social acceptance of children and adults with facial disfigurement. We believe that in order for the general public to accept these and any differences, they must see and understand them. With the support of Cher and many of our families, CCA has been featured twice on the Maury Povich Show, had feature articles in People, Teen People, Allure, Abilities (Canada), Family Circle and Parade magazines. Newspaper articles have appeared in The Washington Post, The Dallas Morning News, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Fort Worth Star Telegram, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Rapid City Journal, and the Buffalo Chip Gazette. In addition, CCA is featured under “Family and Friends” and in various press releases on Cher’s official website.
