TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy conducted a high-tech vision screening for the 100,000th child screened by Impact Alabama’s FocusFirst Initiative on Wednesday, Sept.15, at Tuscaloosa Head Start.
FocusFirst provides a cost-effective direct response to the vision problems of children who live in urban and rural areas throughout the state. Under the supervision of Impact Alabama staff, undergraduate and graduate students ensure that children ages six months-five years in Head Starts and lower-income daycares are screened for vision problems using high-tech photo optic scan cameras, and receive subsidized follow-up care.
In the last six years, more than 250 UA students have participated in FocusFirst vision screenings. They have screened 10,769 children at 335 day care centers in more than 27 counties throughout the state, with approximately 11 percent of the children failing the screenings and receiving subsidized follow-up care as necessary through Sight Savers of Alabama.
Stephen Black, founder and president of Impact Alabama and director of the UA Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility, noted the importance of detecting problems as early as possible, before they cause irreversible damage. “All children deserve to start school with the best vision medically possible,” Black said. “We are proud to have Greg and the Alabama Crimson Tide as a partner on this important day.”
About Impact Alabama: A Student Service Initiative was incorporated in June 2004 as the state’s first nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and implementing substantive service-learning projects in coordination with students from25 universities and colleges throughout Alabama. Impact Alabama continues to attract the highest quality college graduates to serve with the organization as full-time, stipend-based volunteers for one year. The current staff of 30 recent college graduates attained an average GPA of 3.7 and graduated with academic honors and strong records of community leadership. Find them online at www.impactalabama.org
For more information, contact Black at 205/936-9963.
Contact
Stephen Black, 205/936-9963