Dear Families,

I have some devastating news regarding our children's coordinated care for cleft lip and palate.  The Washington Department of Health has decided to terminate the funding for the all the Maxillofacial programs in the state!  This eliminates the Spokane, Tacoma and Yakima’s Maxillofacial Teams.  As parents of children with clefts, we know how important it is for them to see a number of medical providers and attend a regularly scheduled Maxillofacial Review Board Clinic to ensure they are getting the care needed for the multitude of medical issues they face.  We have been left to “fend for ourselves” so to speak.  As parents, our medical knowledge is not extensive and we sometimes struggle with knowing what’s best for our children when it comes to the problems they face.  We have grown to depend on the Team for advice and direction in our children's treatments and medical care.    

Imagine the stress of taking a new baby with a cleft home and not receiving the support visits and helpful information from Laurie Vessey.  Surgeries will be faced alone, no public health nurse to check in during recovery. No longer will there be a group of medical professionals who collaborate together, in one place, to advise parents of plastic surgery, genetics, speech, orthodontics, oral surgery and hearing issues our children may have.  Take a moment to imagine the impact this will have on your family. 

This program is far too vital to be dissolved.  Cleft lip and palate is now ranked the most common birth defect in the country and Spokane has twice the national average number of children born with cleft lip and palate. We cannot sit back and let the Department of Health minimize our children's birth defect.  Our children face a lifelong struggle of surgeries and treatments and need coordinated care so they may reach their full potential.

I implore all parents to attend an emergency meeting hosted by Spokane Smiles where we will discuss a plan to reinstate funding.  Please join us for frequent Parent Action Committee meetings.   The media may arrive, therefore the meetings  must be well attended to make a statement that reflects the importance of this issue.  It’s time for us to act and let it be known that we, the constituents of the state of Washington and parents of children with special health care needs are outraged about this detrimental health care decision. 

Go to for Parent Action Committee Notes and Updates!

Click here for links to your state and federal government offices. We need everyone to write letters, email and call their elected officials to voice outrage over this cut.