By Malika Cruickshank, MPH Candidate, NCCVEH Intern
Good vision is essential for children to thrive in their learning environments. Vision problems can significantly impact a child’s academic performance, social interactions, and overall development. Recognizing this, many schools have implemented innovative vision care programs in partnership with community health providers. Several models were presented in the Healthy Eyes, Healthy Lives: Community Approaches to Children’s Vision webinar by the School-Based Health Alliance and co-sponsored by the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health and the Association for Clinicians for the Underserved on October 9, 2024.
One of the most effective strategies for providing vision care to students is through school-based eye care services. MCR Health in Bradenton, Florida, implemented school-based initiatives with portable vision services positioned within or near schools. This approach has proven highly effective in increasing parental consent and ensuring children have routine access to essential eye care services. These initiatives prioritize early diagnosis and intervention, helping to prevent potential academic challenges related to poor vision.
Albany Area Primary Health Care (AAPHC) exemplifies this model in Georgia. They transformed a classroom within a school into a dedicated space for vision care, allowing them to serve students, siblings, school faculty, and staff. By providing vision exams, glasses, and even transportation to and from eye care services, AAPHC has successfully integrated itself as a lifeline for many in the school community.
School nurses are central to the success of these programs. They collaborate with healthcare providers to ensure every child can access vision screenings and follow-up exams. For instance, at the beginning of each school year, Health Partners of Western Ohio works with school nurses to distribute physical and electronic consent forms to parents to obtain permission for their children to participate in screenings and eye examinations. Patient navigators then help schedule appointments and coordinate referrals from the school-based vision clinic. In prioritizing eye examinations for students based on several factors, such as referrals from vision screenings, Individual Education Program (IEP) requirements, or concerns raised by staff and parents, they are working to ensure vision correction efforts will impact the students with the greatest need and to prioritize screenings in younger grades earlier in the school year.
Access to vision care is a priority for these school-based programs. Even when a student’s family lacks insurance or cannot afford the eye care costs, they are not turned away. Services such as eye examinations and glasses are provided regardless of financial circumstances. By billing insurance and utilizing organizational revenue and grant funding, the programs ensure sustainability and equity in eye care. These programs also realize that communication with the schools and parents is of the utmost importance.
Schools utilize various outreach methods, including flyers, social media posts, school newsletters, and automated calls or texts. Letters detailing the results of vision screenings are sent home to parents and kept as records for the school and healthcare partners. This multi-faceted communication strategy ensures that families are well-informed and engaged in their children’s eye care.
By prioritizing early diagnosis, improving access to care, and ensuring continuity of services, school nurses are helping to create a brighter future for every child. These initiatives demonstrate that when schools and healthcare providers unite, the benefits for children, families, and communities are profound.
