ACF
Administration on Children and Families |
U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
1. Log No. ACF-IM-HS-08-20 |
2. Issuance Date: 11/18/08 |
3. Originating Office: Office of Head Start |
4. Key Words: Vision Screening |
INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
TO: Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies
SUBJECT: Vision
Screening
Resources
ABSTRACT:
Head Start Program Performance Standard 1304.20(b)(1) requires
that all Head Start and Early Head Start children are screened for
potential concerns with regard to vision within the first 45 days of
entry into Head Start. In order to assist and support programs in
their efforts to accurately screen children for vision concerns and
follow up on these concerns, the Office of Head Start (OHS) and
Prevent Blindness America (PBA) have entered into a partnership.
INFORMATION:
Vision disorders are a leading cause of impaired conditions in
children. If not detected early, pediatric vision problems can lead
to a variety of difficulties. The purpose of this agreement is to
establish a framework for the collaboration between PBA and OHS to
improve the vision health of Head Start and Early Head Start
children. PBA affiliates will inform Head Start programs about
vision screening services and other resources available to them in
their community. As a result, through accurate vision screening and
follow up, a vast number of children in need of vision health
services will be reached.
PBA, a volunteer health agency which was founded in 1908, has a
mission to prevent blindness and preserve the sight of all
Americans. This mission includes public and professional education,
advocacy, certified vision screening training, community and patient
service programs and research. A key element of PBA’s nationwide
promotion of a continuum of vision care is its development of a
series of vision screening courses that address both pediatric and
adult eye care. PBA is committed to seeing a standard level of care
provided across programs, achieved through its certification
program. This certification program includes protocols that are
determined by the PBA board of directors, based on the
recommendations of experts in vision care from across the
nation.
Head Start Program Performance Standard
1304.20(b)(1) requires: “In collaboration with each child's parent,
and within 45 calendar days of the child's entry into the program,
grantee and delegate agencies must perform or obtain linguistically
and age appropriate screening procedures to identify concerns
regarding a child's developmental, sensory (visual and auditory),
behavioral, motor, language, social, cognitive, perceptual, and
emotional skills (see 45 CFR 1308.6(b)(3) for additional
information). To the greatest extent possible, these screening
procedures must be sensitive to the child's cultural background.”
This regulation is implemented in a variety of ways by Head Start
programs. The training and materials provided by PBA will assist
Head Start programs in their efforts to conduct vision screenings in
a consistent and accurate manner in order to meet this Head Start
requirement.
Additional information on how to contact PBA regarding their
resources, materials and training is available on the PBA web site.
/ Patricia E. Brown /
Patricia E. Brown
Acting Director
Office of Head Start
See PDF version:
Vision
Screening Resources [PDF, 42.7KB]