Smile Train charity

We explain what we know about each program below.

Activity 1: treatment partnerships

It appears that Smile Train funds developing-world doctors to perform surgeries, while requiring them to adhere to its Safety and Quality Improvement Protocol and to participate in Smile Train Express, an online patient record-keeping database.

The Smile Train Express database is not accessible to the public, so it is unclear exactly what participation consists of. It is also unclear to us how Smile Train audits and enforces adherence to its Safety and Quality Improvement Protocol.

The final report from grantees includes questions about financials and activities carried out, as well as open-ended questions, but it is not clear to us how (or whether) Smile Train (a) ensures that its grantees are carrying out the activities they say they are and (b) checks on the quality of these activities.

Activity 2: treatment grants

Treatment grants are "one-time grants for medical professionals, hospitals, and organizations that provide treatment for poor children with clefts in developing countries, but who may not meet the requirements to become a treatment partner." They do not appear to include the same requirements as treatment partnerships, but both final reports from grantees appear identical in form.

For this program, similar to treatment partnerships, we wonder how (and whether) Smile Train (a) ensures that its grantees are carrying out the activities they say they are and; (b) checks on the quality of these activities.

Activity 3: education grants

Smile Train funds "doctors, hospitals and medical schools to develop and deliver advanced in-country cleft lip and palate teaching and education programs." It is not clear to us how (or whether) Smile Train monitors the quality of this training or its ultimate impact on surgeons' skills.

Which activities are focused on?