WHEREAS, the Children’s Craniofacial Association (CCA) began celebrating Craniofacial Acceptance Month in 2005 to bring awareness to children in the United States who are either born with or develop a craniofacial difference, which is a condition of the head and/or face; 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
WHEREAS, families are often under emotional and financial strain due to demands resulting from ongoing and expensive medical treatment; and
WHEREAS, there is a lack of education and information disseminated to the general public about individuals with facial differences; and
WHEREAS, organizations such as Children’s Craniofacial Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, serve populations affected by craniofacial differences and the professionals who care for them; and
WHEREAS, these organization give hope and empower individuals and families affected by these facial differences, while working towards the vision of a world where all people are accepted for who they are, not how they look; and
WHEREAS, Children’s Craniofacial Association has designated September of 2019 as the 15th year of “Craniofacial Acceptance Month,” recognizing “Beyond the Face is a Heart;”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize September 2019 as CRANIOFACIAL ACCEPTANCE MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.
