September 2024: Craniofacial Acceptance Month

WHEREAS, the Children's Craniofacial Association (CCA) began celebrating Craniofacial Acceptance Month in 2005 to bring awareness to the thousands of children in the United States each year who are either born with or develop a craniofacial difference, which is a physical anomaly of the skull and/or face; and,

WHEREAS, there are various types of craniofacial anomalies with different causes and medical implications, including cleft lip which is diagnosed in over 185,000 infants every year worldwide (NIDCR), craniosynostosis that affects at least 1,500 children annually in the United States alone (CDC), and other less well-known conditions such as Apert syndrome, Treacher Collins syndrome, and facial palsy; and,

WHEREAS, individuals with craniofacial differences and their families often struggle to understand what they are facing and how to move forward in their early stages of life and may experience emotional and financial strain due to the demands of ongoing and expensive medical treatment; and,

WHEREAS, due to the complexity of craniofacial anomalies, affected individuals will often endure multiple surgeries before they reach adulthood; and,

WHEREAS, there is a lack of education and information shared with the general public about individuals with facial differences; and,

WHEREAS, organizations such as Children's Craniofacial Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, serve individuals affected by craniofacial differences and the professionals who care for them in order to empower and give hope to them and their families, while working towards the vision of a world where all people are accepted for who they are, not how they look; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 2024 as Craniofacial Acceptance Month in Michigan.