By: Adam Levy, CAE, Executive Director 

What is your organization’s mission? 
The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is a multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to optimal outcomes for individuals born with cleft lip, cleft palate, and related craniofacial conditions. Founded in 1943, ACPA advances its mission by promoting excellence in care, supporting research, providing professional education, and setting the standards of care through Team Approval. With more than 2,100 members across surgery, dentistry, speech-language pathology, psychology, nursing, genetics, and other disciplines, ACPA is the largest organization in the world that brings together the full spectrum of professionals who treat these conditions under one roof. ACPA: Leading Interdisciplinary Cleft and Craniofacial Care So Patients and Families Thrive. 

Tell us about the communities you serve. 
ACPA serves two interconnected communities: the health care professionals who dedicate their careers to cleft and craniofacial care, and the patients and families whose lives depend on that care. Cleft lip and palate is one of the most common birth differences in the world, affecting roughly 1 in 1000 newborns in the U.S. Treatment is often lifelong, spanning infancy through adulthood and touching nearly every aspect of a person’s health, from feeding and breathing to speech, hearing, dental development, and psychosocial wellbeing. Through ACPA Approved Teams, we connect thousands of patients and families each year with coordinated, multidisciplinary care teams that meet our standards, giving them confidence that they are receiving the best and most qualified care available anywhere. 

What are your organization’s main programs or issue areas? 
ACPA’s work centers on four areas. ACPA Approved Teams evaluate and recognize interdisciplinary cleft and craniofacial teams that meet established standards for coordinated, comprehensive care. Professional education is delivered year-round through our Annual Meeting and online education. Research is driven by the Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal, as well as through scholarships, awards, and a robust forum for disseminating emerging evidence. Patient and family resources—including our easy-to-use tool to find the nearest ACPA Approved Team—help individuals navigate what can be an overwhelming care journey.  

How does your work relate to the National Health Council’s mission and the work of your members? 
ACPA’s work aligns closely with NHC’s core commitments to patient-centered care, health equity, and improved health outcomes. Craniofacial conditions disproportionately affect underserved communities with limited access to the specialized, coordinated care these conditions require. Our Team Approval Program directly addresses that gap by establishing a standard of care and making high-quality teams visible and accessible to families wherever they live. Our multidisciplinary model also mirrors the kind of integrated, whole-person approach to health that NHC and its members champion across disease areas.  

As July marks Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month, we welcome the opportunity to stand alongside other health organizations in reminding patients, families, and policymakers that rare and complex conditions deserve the same urgency, resources, and coordinated advocacy as any other health priority. 

ACPA is a new member of the National Health Council. For more information on NHC membership, please email membership@nhcouncil.org.