How we verify listings
A directory is only as trustworthy as its data. Here is exactly how every listing on Cleft Surgeon Finder gets in — and what we refuse to publish.
Where our data comes from
As of our last update (2026-10-29), the directory lists 201 cleft teams. The primary source is the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) “Find a Care Team” directory — the professional association's own published list of cleft and craniofacial teams. A small number of additional teams come directly from hospital and children's hospital program pages where a dedicated cleft program is clearly published. Every listing carries its source, and every team profile links back to it.
What “ACPA Approved” means
The ACPA reviews teams against published standards for team composition, patient care, and record-keeping. Teams carrying the ACPA Approved badge on this site are listed as approved in the ACPA's own directory as of our snapshot date. It is one useful signal among several — not a guarantee of outcomes, and not an endorsement by us.
What we never publish
- Invented listings. We never create a team, doctor, phone number, or address. If we cannot verify a program from a published source, it does not appear. (That is why some states show fewer teams — we would rather show a gap than a guess.)
- Per-team insurance lists. Insurance networks change constantly, and a stale list is worse than no list: a family could choose a team based on wrong coverage information. Every profile instead shows the team's real phone number so you can verify your coverage directly.
- Fabricated reviews or ratings. Ratings on this site come only from real parent submissions, and nothing is published until it is reviewed. An empty review section means no reviews yet — never a hidden bad score.
How often we re-check
Directory data decays: teams move, numbers change, programs open and close. We re-check listings against the ACPA directory and hospital pages on a quarterly cadence, and each team profile shows the date of our last data update. If you spot something out of date, tell us — corrections from families and teams are the fastest way we learn.
Rankings are never for sale
Teams appear in search results and state listings ordered by relevance to your search — never by payment. If sponsored placements ever appear, they will be clearly labeled as sponsored and will not affect organic rankings. See our advertising policy.
The limits of a directory
This site helps you find and compare cleft teams. It does not recommend a specific team or surgeon, and nothing here is medical advice. Choosing a care team is a medical decision — make it with your pediatrician and the teams themselves. Our medical disclaimer has the full picture.