Creating Smiles, Improving Lives

Our Local Services

In Central Texas, Austin Smiles closely collaborates with Dell Children’s Medical Center’s Craniofacial and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Center, providing social-emotional program support to patients and their families undergoing treatment. Austin Smiles hosts several annual events for these children to be around their peers, so they can share their similar experiences and know they are not alone. Local programming is designed to decrease isolation, build self-confidence, and empower children to love their differences. We aim to foster emotional well-being through fun and community.

Volunteer

Working Locally

Austin Smiles works closely with Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas to provide wrap-around support for patients and their families by:

Serving as a resource of information for anyone affected by cleft lip/palate and referring anyone needing assistance to the appropriate person or entity
Sponsoring cleft patients to attend “Camp Amigo,” a weekend overnight camp where participants enjoy outdoor activities, team-building exercises, and socializing with other young Texans affected by cleft lip and/or palate
Coordinating social and emotional programming throughout the year to bring fun and fellowship to patients and families
Providing specialty bottles for newborns, jaw surgery kits to teens, as well as other special needs assistance. For more information about no-cost specialty bottles and jaw surgery kits please email us at info@austinsmiles.org
Connecting caregivers to parent advocacy supports, resources, and our Online Cleft Community of Central Texas

Join Cleft Community of Central Texas

About our Local Cleft Team

The Dell Children’s Craniofacial and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Center offers quality treatment in a positive, healing place. The multidisciplinary cleft team meets weekly to diagnose, discuss, and develop treatment plans for individual patients. The first visit may start with counseling even before a patient is born and continues through childhood and into adulthood. At the team visit, families meet with the plastic surgeon, orthodontist, speech therapist, and pediatric dentist. The nurse coordinator ensures a smooth path for every patient, from diagnosis through treatment. The craniofacial pediatrician addresses complex medical conditions that may be present. The social worker ensures that families are connected to vital resources and to each other. As patients are followed over the years, data is collected to study their long-term growth.

Austin Smiles - local services Camp Amigo photo

About Camp Amigo

Each year, Austin Smiles hosts Camp Amigo giving young local children born with cleft lip/palate the chance to be themselves, make friends, and have a great time with other children living similar experiences. Camp Amigo is a no-cost overnight weekend therapeutic camp for up to 60 campers located at Camp For All in Burton, TX. The location is perfect for campers with all levels of abilities, giving them the opportunity to bond while enjoying the following activities: ziplining, horseback riding, fishing, photoshop, kickball, cooking classes, swimming, etc. The camp also provides an opportunity for group reflection among their peers.

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