U.S. Children’s Medical Assistance Fund’s Role in Putting an End to the Medical and Dental Inequalities in America

We so often hear in the news of tragedies in third world countries. More specifically, we’re referring to tragedies that involve children. Whether the stories feature children who lose limbs or suffer horrible scars as a result of injuries from war or landmine explosions, or children born with various physical maladies in regions where treatment is not available, these stories tend to focus on children overseas. We at U.S. Children’s Medical Assistance Fund, Inc. found that an extremely large percentage of American-based organizations send their money abroad to children in need who live outside of our country. While we advocate for children across the globe that have physical maladies (think club foot, cleft lip, cross-eyes, dental malocclusions, scars, or are missing a limb), we also know that there are needs in our country for these same treatments. This isn’t a political blog about medical and dental inequalities with regards to access to insurance or anything else like that. This is about our belief at U.S.CMAF that all children should have access to the necessary medical and dental treatments to correct these maladies that are not covered by insurance or government programs. Families in the U.S. who struggle just to put food on their table cannot even consider taking their children to the orthodontist for much needed dental work or to a plastic surgeon for reconstructive surgery. Here at U.S.CMAF we aim to enable America’s children to lead active lives with greater positive self-esteem by covering the cost of medical and dental treatment of physical maladies.

U.S. Children’s Medical Assistance Fund, Inc. was founded by Andrea Sterenstein, a Deerfield resident of 22 years, in 2011. Andrea was attending college in Cleveland, Ohio and working at MetroHealth Medical Center in the county hospital’s newborn intensive care unit during the summer of 2011.  Many of the children she saw would require additional treatments that would not be covered by government programs and often the parents did not have health insurance to cover treatment costs. Andrea founded USCMAF as a means to help families get the treatment their children needed. Now a graduate of Case Western Reserve University, Sterenstein is spending her time promoting the charity and informing  Americans of the need for such assistance in our own country.

On February 24, Andrea and Carol Sterenstein, the Director of USCMAF, will be running a half marathon in Disney World on behalf of USCMAF. USCMAF is currently working with two very low income families in Lake County to cover the cost of much needed orthodontia treatment that will range, for each patient, between $5,000 and $10,000 in cost. Thus the fundraising goal for the half marathon is to raise the necessary funds (some $15,000) to provide these girls with the treatment recommended by area orthodontists. USCMAF receives no government funding; support comes from donations made by individuals and companies who believe in our mission and from fundraising events such as sales at the Deerfield Farmers’ Market.  USCMAF also has a Shop On Line with exquisite merchandise ( http://uscmaforg.ipage.com/store/index.html ).

We hope to never have to turn a qualifying child away. The only way we will fulfill this goal is with your support through donations and purchases. Please visit USCMAF online at www.uscmaf.org. Between now and Valentine’s Day, purchases from USCMAF’s Shop On Line of over $25 qualify for $1 ground shipping within the U.S. All net proceeds from Shop purchases help us fulfill our mission. USCMAF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, so all monetary donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.