By Candi Atkinson
Published October 16, 2008
Children in daycare centers around Jackson Countyreceived an eye screening from FocusFirst this week.
In Scottsboro, Tiny Tots Day Care,CalvaryBaptistChurchand First Baptist Learning Center received screenings. In the county, Woodville Baptist Church day care, Rudders Chapel Baptist Church day care, Mountain View Church of God day care and First United Methodist Stevenson day care took part in the vision exams by student volunteers with FocusFirst.
Children ages six months to five years were screened using state-of-the-art photo-screening technology. The program provides a cost-effective direct response to the vision problems of children who live in rural areas.
The children are taken into a room where the vision screening equipment is set up. The room is dark except for a few red lights.
“We turn all the lights off except the few red ones so that the children’s eyes can dilate,” said Alana Dickie, a member of FocusFirst who was performing the vision screenings atFirst Baptist Learning Center.
The screening only takes a few seconds. The child is put in front a black box and a picture is taken of their eyes.
Potential problems have been detected in over 12 percent ofAlabamachildren screened since 2004.
Children who have a potential problem will receive follow up care as necessary, under the supervision and coordination of Sight Savers of America.
Student volunteers with FocusFirst travel to communities to perform vision screenings for the children.
“We desperately need young people’s energies, perspectives, and talents to make our communities and institutions work well,” said Stephen Black, founder and president of FocusFirst.
“I see the college years as an incredible opportunity to engage students in addressing human and community needs through structured service opportunities, while providing them with a sense of their ability as well as responsibility to affect structural change.”
