Clubfoot affects one out of every 800 children worldwide, making it one of the most common birth defects in the world. In developing countries, children living with untreated clubfoot face incredible hurdles their whole lives. Along with stigma and discrimination, they are often left alone and hidden away because the family is ashamed. Because walking is so difficult, they are among the least likely to enjoy the benefits of education and health care. Even worse, children with clubfoot are subject to higher risks of neglect, poverty, physical, and sexual abuse.

There is hope. Given the opportunity, these children have the potential to lead fulfilling lives and to contribute to the social, cultural, and economic vitality of their communities. MiracleFeet increases access to proper treatment for children born with clubfoot in developing countries through partnerships with local healthcare providers. With MiracleFeet’s support, treatment is free or extremely low-cost for the families who receive it. Over 90% of supported clinics are located in public hospitals, ensuring treatment is effective and the model is sustainable.

Unlike so many of the world’s problems, clubfoot is solvable – and treatment is surprisingly inexpensive. MiracleFeet supports local health practitioners in low to middle income countries who are trained in the Ponseti Method, a non-surgical treatment that involves a series of plaster casts that are changed weekly. In 95% of cases, this results in full correction of the foot in four to six weeks. Following casting, a brace is worn at night for several years to prevent relapse. The total cost of treatment? Only $250 per child. It’s a small price to pay to transform a child’s life.

Founded by parents of children born with clubfoot in the US, MiracleFeet has helped change the lives of more than 23,000 children in 19 different countries. What they do goes beyond fixing feet. Proper treatment has far-reaching benefits – reducing the chances of living a life of poverty, abuse, and neglect in a vulnerable group of children who can easily be identified and helped. MiracleFeet is helping them rewrite their story and transform their lives.

The MiracleFeet Model

Using a bottom-up approach, MiracleFeet offers a continuous cycle of support for the treatment of children. By 2020 they will have supported over 50,000 children.

1. EMPOWER

MiracleFeet provides the technical and financial resources needed to create and support high-quality clubfoot clinics in low income countries. Support usually includes:

• - Identifying local partners
• - Training healthcare workers and practitioners in the Ponseti Method
• - Hiring and training parent educators to increase treatment compliance
• - Providing treatment supplies, including braces
• - Establishing systems to collect and analyze patient and clinic-level data to monitor quality and measure impact

2. EXPAND

MiracleFeet expands access to proper treatment. Strategies include:

• - Creating early diagnosis and referral processes
• - Executing clubfoot awareness campaigns
• - Educating healthcare workers about clubfoot
• - Adding more clinics to reduce travel time for families
• - Conducting refresher and advanced Ponseti training

3. INTEGRATE

MiracleFeet integrates clubfoot programs in the local health system in order to promote lasting and sustainable change. They do this by:

• - Securing endorsement and support from the Ministry of Health
• - Embedding clubfoot management into the existing public health infrastructure to drive down cost/child and minimize long-term dependence on MiracleFeet
• - Collaborating closely with government agencies, NGOs and private partners to reduce need for outside support