Every child that is born in the 10 county area served by the Dell Children's Medical Center is seen by the Cleft Team before the child leaves the hospital. Patients meet with the Cleft Team coordinator and if the parents do not have sufficient resources to pay for corrective surgery, an appointment is set up with an Austin Smiles representative. Additionally, school district administrators and pediatricians contact Austin Smiles about children with cleft lip and/or palate and were not born in the area.

The Cleft Team has currently has 270 patients registered from Austin and the 10-county surrounding area. Prior to birth, many of the parents contact Dell Children's Medical Center to seek help and information. They are referred to the Cleft Team medical coordinator who in turn coordinates their first visit to the team to learn about the birth defect. When a cleft baby is born, the family and baby are seen by a member of the Cleft Team before leaving the hospital. Initial visits with specific team members begin within two weeks. When a cleft baby is born outside of Austin, their local pediatricians, clinic or school notifies the Cleft Team or the Austin Smiles office. The progress of all cleft patients is reviewed annually by the Cleft Team to ensure that they continue to receive the appropriate medical protocol including any additional surgeries that are necessary. The cleft children are under the direction of the Cleft Team from birth until 18 years old.