Our Programs

Healing The Children Northeast provides medical and dental services to children throughout the world who lack medical and financial resources. Sixteen chapters are located across the United States and work together to provide services to children, both domestically and abroad. Healing the Children Northeast is a Connecticut based non-profit organization founded in 1985. At the end of 2020 our Northeast Chapter has provided services to 60,397 children through our three programs.

Our Medical Teams Abroad Program reaches across national boundaries to provide our world’s children with desperately needed medical care. We arrange teams of volunteer doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals to go to less developed countries where they provide medical treatments and surgeries for children in need. Our trips have been to India, Guatemala, Ecuador, Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru, Thailand, Bolivia, Honduras, and Brazil to name a few.  In 2020 we provided services to 646 children and performed 1,485 procedures.  From it’s inception in 1985 to the end of 2020 this program alone has provided services to 55,541 children and young adults.

2020 Summary:

During 2020 our Medical Teams Abroad Program sent out 6 teams consisting of Facial Plastic, Cleft Lip and Palate,  Speech Pathology,  and Dental Specialties. These teams traveled to Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Ethiopia.  70 team members traveled with us this year of which 25 were new members.

2020 – breakdown of children treated by specialty:

Facial Plastics/Cleft – 218

Speech – 185

Dental – 243

The total value of services donated in-kind for all specialties was valued at $1,788,018 and lectures valued at $70,000.

Donated medical supplies brought on all of these trips were valued at in-kind $256,203

Speech Teams provided educational workshops and training valued at $20,000

70 team members traveled to 3 countries during 2020 and 25 of our members were new this year.

Our International Inbound Program assisted 52 children from South Sudan, Ethiopia and Peru.  Total value of services provided for this program was $8,166.40.

Our Domestic Kids Program was also in effect this year.  We assisted 1406 local children by providing financial assistance for educational scholarships, and participated in a  lunch feeding program for 1,100 children; arranged therapeutic riding for 3 children; supplied children k – 3rd grade with school essentials; profited financial assistance for the burial of an infant and donated PPE supplies to CT and NY area hospitals.  Total value of services – $25,553.44.

Examples of what we provide: Facial Plastics/Maxillofacial surgery, cleft lip and palate/microtia (ear), Speech Pathology, Burn and hand reconstruction, dental services such as extractions, minor oral surgery, filings, hygiene and education.

Our Cleft Teams treat cleft lip and palate deformities which are two types of birth defects that occur during the early stages of pregnancy.  When the nose, lip, palate and jaw are supposed to fuse but fail to do so, results in a deformity known as a cleft lip or palate. The cleft lip is a gap in between the nose and mouth, while the cleft palate is a huge fissure on the roof of the mouth. This deformity can make eating, drinking, speaking and in some cases breathing difficult.

Millions of children where we travel go untreated and live in isolation. Cleft surgery is simple and the results are life altering.

Did you know that a cleft lip/palate surgery for one child costs $250.00.
Disposable supplies cost as little as $10.00 per surgery
Surgical Blades cost as little as $25.00 per surgery
Sutures cost as little as $50.00 per surgery
Instruments cost as little as $100.00 per surgery

*For as little as $20.83 per month you could support one child’s cleft repair.

The International Inbound Program brings children from developing countries to the United States where we match the needs of the child with a volunteer doctor and/or hospital with that specialty. We arrange for travel to the U.S., as well as visas for the child and parent. A volunteer host family is found who will open their home for the child and parent while the child is receiving medical treatment in the U.S.

In 2020 our International Inbound Program helped 52 children from South Sudan, Ethiopia and Peru.

The Domestic Kids Program provides medical treatment and assistance to children in our local communities who are unable to get these services due to a lack of financial resources. We have arranged for children to receive services such as dental, eye care and glasses, hearing screening and hearing aids, medical, and surgical care, medical equipment/ apparatus, prescription medications, physical therapy, speech therapy, etc.

In 2020 our Domestic Kids Program helped 1406 children in the Northeast Region of the U.S.

International Inbound:

In early September we received a message from former patient Renita of Belize.  Renita came through our program in 2017 – 2018 and received surgery and medical treatment in Westchester County New York.  She resided in the host home of Stephen and Mary Tracy. 

Renita has Spina Bifida and the surgery she received helped her to be able to walk and ride a bicycle.  Her recent message updated us on the recent hurricane and a brief medical update.  She has asked for assistance in providing her with a new pair of shoes and new leg / foot braces. We are working on the details of helping Renita receive what she needs.

If you would like to help Renita or children like her, please call our office at

860-355-1828 or donate through our website.    

Photo of Renita on the left and her sister Rayana on the right

Domestic Kids Program:

Pictures before and after surgery:

Healing the Children Northeast relies heavily on donations to help children. The need is great and each day, more and more parents turn to us to help their children, around the corner and around the world, one child at a time.