Healthy Vision Community Awards
To view all past Healthy Vision Community Awardees visit the Healthy Vision Community Programs Database
California
Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind
Resea, CA
Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind (TLC) is conducting the Vision Screening and Education Program as a capacity-building effort for its Early Intervention Program (EIP) for children birth to five years who are blind with development disabilities. TLC will conduct outreach and free, comprehensive vision screenings for children ages six months to five years at preschools, family resource centers, farmers markets, malls, and other venues visited by families. All EIP families will receive bimonthly educational sessions to learn about common eye conditions affecting children, best practices, intervention, and rehabilitation.
Tulare Community Health Clinic
Tulare, CA
Through the Healthy Vision Promotora Project, the Tulare Community Health Clinic will increase the knowledge of diabetic eye health and occupational eye safety among Hispanic migrant and seasonal farm workers (MSFW) throughout Tulare County. This population experiences a disproportionately high rate of diabetes and occupational eye injury. Migrant education public health nurses will work with the project team to schedule and conduct home visits to MSFW families. The Healthy Vision Promotora will provide materials and one-on-one sessions at the clinic’s free health and dental screenings and local events.
Colorado
Stout Street Eye Clinic
Denver, CO
The Blindness Prevention program in central Denver provides no-cost primary and preventive medical care and other services to homeless families and individuals. The clinic will increase its eye health education and conduct one-on-one sessions with patients diagnosed with glaucoma and/or diabetic eye disease. Culturally competent print and video presentations will be provided, visual field exams performed, and follow-up visits made. The project’s patient navigator and educator will work with the referring eye care professional to design presentations specific to a patient’s treatment. Emphasis will be on the proper use of provided eye drops and consistent followup visits.
Georgia
J.C. Lewis Primary Healthcare Center, Inc.
Savannah, GA
The Diabetic Vision Health Program for the Homeless and Uninsured is a collaboration of four safety-net primary providers: J.C. Lewis Primary Healthcare Center, Inc. (lead), Community Health Mission, Good Samaritan Clinic, and Saint Mary’s Community Health Center. The program was conceptualized when a county evaluation identified a significant need for vision care among this population, especially people with diabetes. The program expands existing health promotion and diabetes services. It targets higher risk minority groups and features comprehensive assessments and screenings; monthly lunch-and-learn workshops; bimonthly eye clinics; and various educational activities, including displays of information materials in waiting rooms.
Kentucky
North Central Kentucky Area Health Education Center
Park Hills, KY
The State of Kentucky has seen a large increase in the Hispanic population. About one-third have neither a usual healthcare provider nor regular vision exams. The North Central Kentucky Area Health Education Center is conducting the Hispanic Awareness Glaucoma Project/Proyecto Hispanico de Educacion en Glaucoma to increase awareness and knowledge of glaucoma and promote annual dilated eye exams for those at risk. The program features educational training about glaucoma for Spanish-speaking community volunteers known as promotores (health promoters) and two large health fairs. Promotores will staff information booths and exhibits, as well as distribute educational materials to family, friends, and neighbors. Local Lions Clubs will provide eye screenings and assist with referrals.
Michigan
St. Joseph Health System
Tawas City, MI
The Don’t Lose Focus project will address occupational eye health safety for the agricultural community and high-risk industrial employers in the rural northeast Michigan communities served by St. Joseph Health System. The project will target services to large companies and employers with less than 25 employees and small farming businesses that have limited resources and opportunities to access occupational health programs. The project’s primary objectives are to improve eye health safety awareness, educate users on proper selection and fit of safety eyewear, reduce preventable workforce-related eye injuries, and identify community partners for sustainability.
Missouri
Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation
Columbia, MO
The Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation aims to grow its mobile Glaucoma Detection Screening program and reach the underserved Hispanic community. Through the Promoting Glaucoma Detection Screenings to the Hispanic Population, the foundation will increase glaucoma awareness, promote free screenings, and build a network of partners focused on serving the Hispanic community in the state. The bilingual vision services coordinator will conduct a pilot program in Columbia and will present educational seminars for two community organizations. The foundation will analyze the results of the pilot and identify best practices for implementing the program across the state. It also plans to build a network of partners to support statewide efforts.
New York
Lighthouse International
New York, NY
For the Empowering Senior Center Staff to Facilitate Retinal Exams in High-Risk Older Adult Communities project, Lighthouse International will work with senior centers in the Harlem and East Harlem neighborhoods of New York City to increase annual retinal exams. This project will educate center staff on vision issues their clients may face, the importance of annual exams, and how to provide referral to Lighthouse services. It reflects a continuation of the Lighthouse’s successful work with centers in identifying older adults in need of vision services and in providing eye exams and followup care. The Lighthouse will apply lessons learned to enhance its outreach to additional senior centers and increase screenings in this at-risk population.
North Dakota
North Dakota Optometric Association
Bismarck, ND
The North Dakota Optometric Association has tailored the Eating for Your Eyes II: Diabetic Retinopathy education program to reach older adults and American Indians of all ages. The program reinforces the concept that nutrition and eye health complement each other, especially in the context of diabetes prevention and management. Extension agents in the state’s 52 counties will use a multimedia teaching kit and deliver workshops in such venues as community centers and tribal colleges. In addition, gerontologists and dieticians will lead workshops in larger venues. Family members will be encouraged to participate.
Oklahoma
New View Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, OK
New View Oklahoma provides employment and rehabilitative services to blind and vision-impaired individuals. Its Oklahoma Vision Rehabilitative Center is establishing the Adapted Type 2 Diabetes Education Program for Persons with Vision Impairment to deliver tailored education and information to support diabetes self-management among those with diabetes-related vision loss. Without access to adaptive support, such as large-print formats and magnification software, people with diabetes with vision loss cannot manage medications, inject insulin, or measure glucose levels. Classes to provide training and life skills will be offered in partnership with the State Department of Rehabilitation Services. Sessions will be held in Oklahoma City and in three rural areas. Program participants will have unlimited telephone support and referrals, as well as a followup home visit.
Texas
El Paso Diabetes Association
EL Paso, TX
The El Paso Diabetes Association (EPDA) is conducting the Diabetic Eye Disease Education and Poster Contest. The association will conduct outreach to promote educational clinics and opportunities for vision screenings. Each month, the El Paso Eye Institute will donate 20 dilated eye exams to uninsured people with diabetes who attend the sessions. Juried poster contests for adults and youth will be held monthly and cash awards will be presented. Winning entries will be displayed in schools, county courthouses, and other locations. To remove barriers for persons who cannot afford art supplies, EPDA will purchase materials and distribute art kits to people who submit an entry form. Entrants also will receive educational materials.
TEAMability, Inc.
San Antonio, TX
TEAMability provides opportunities for children with severe combined disabilities (cognitive, sensory, physical, and communication) to participate actively at home, at school, and in the community. The Implementing Rehabilitation for Children Having Cortical Visual Impairments: CVI Challenge will begin with a pilot project to develop a cortical visual impairment curriculum that can be integrated into the interdisciplinary approach of TEAMability, its application, and outcome monitoring.
Utah
Fourth Street Clinic
Salt Lake City, UT
The Fourth Street Clinic is the only source of ongoing, comprehensive primary care for the homeless in Utah. Through the Diabetes Eye Disease Education and Prevention Program for Homeless Utahns, the clinic will educate homeless patients with diabetes, promote and facilitate annual exams, and encourage patients to take an active role in their health care. The clinic will host an in-service training on diabetic retinopathy for the entire medical staff. Ongoing mentoring will be provided to medical staff and volunteers. The clinic will begin scheduling exams onsite rather than referring patients to an offsite facility.
Virginia
Blue Ridge Medical Center
Arrington, VA
The Rural Health Outreach Program (RHOP) of the Blue Ridge Medical Center provides health services and resources to uninsured and low-income population groups in Nelson County and surrounding areas. In disseminating eye safety and health materials and resources, RHOP will use venues, such as health depots and fairs, and community days, including Hispanic Community Day. Specifically, RHOP will educate target audiences about the effects of pesticides and direct exposure to sun and ultraviolet rays on eyes and vision. It will promote the use of eye protection, especially on farms and in migrant camps, and will provide referrals and followup.
West Virginia
The Larry Joe Harless Community Center
Gilbert, WV
The Rural Appalachian Vision and Eye Screening (RAVE) program will increase awareness of the importance of eye care for patients with diabetes. An initial awareness campaign will promote screenings. A series of regular vision screenings will be held at the Community Center, including screening for diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration through fundus photos. The Center also intends to develop an ophthalmic screening and educational program to help identify high-risk individuals who can be referred for care.
