WHAT: A partnership between Broward County Public Schools, Nova Southeastern University’s Advancing Equitable Access to Health and Wellbeing (PATHWell), Deerfield Beach Community Cares and Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program will make sure that financially disadvantaged Deerfield Beach public school children have access to a comprehensive eye examination including dilation and prescription glasses, if required, to give them the best chance at academic success. Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program will be providing services to Deerfield Beach Public Schools for 1 week in January.
Providing students with the proper tools to see clearly means they can engage in their lessons more effectively, participate fully in class activities, and approach their education with confidence. According to the American Optometric Association, 1 in 4 children have a vision problem, and many of these issues can be corrected with early intervention. Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program not only ensures students get the support they need to excel academically, but they also refer students for medical follow-up to address underlying medical conditions. Comprehensive eye exams and prescription glasses provided by the Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program for Deerfield Beach school children is partially funded by the Children’s Services Council of Broward County and Florida Department of Health.
Joel L. Smith, President & CEO of Deerfield Beach Community Cares, said, “This incredible initiative led by the Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program, is a great benefit for our youth. Providing comprehensive eye exams and prescription glasses, they are not only enhancing children’s vision but also nurturing their overall health. We are proud of our collaborative efforts to improving the lives of our Deerfield Beach children.”
François Sainfort, Ph.D., FACHE, NSU PATHWell Principal Investigator, said, “I commend the Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program for its exemplary work and this partnership directly correlates with our PATHWell Grant mission to address health inequities, with a focus on vulnerable, marginalized, disadvantaged populations.”
Media is invited to attend on Thursday, January 16th from 10:00am – 11:00am the importance of comprehensive eye exams as Deerfield Beach Middle School students receive the gift of vision from the Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program.
WHO: Deerfield Beach Middle School Students
Nova Southeastern University’s Advancing Equitable Access to Health and Wellbeing (PATHWell)
Deerfield Beach Community Cares
Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program
WHEN: Thursday, January 16th from 10:00am – 11:00am
WHERE: Deerfield Beach Middle School
701 SE 6th Ave, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
MEDIA TO CONTACT:
Cameron Sisser
Senior Vice President for External Relations
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc.
Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program, LLC
786-362-7515
NSU MD Partnership Advancing Equitable Access to Health and Wellbeing (PATHWell)
Advancing Equitable Access to Health and Wellbeing (PATHWell) Collaborative, Nova Southeastern University’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (NSU MD) is working to create a national model for studying, integrating, disseminating, and measuring the causes and impacts of health inequities in underserved communities. The Collaborative will work through community partnerships to raise public awareness of health inequities, as well as to develop, deliver, and evaluate community-based interventions that reduce health disparities.
Deerfield Beach Community Cares
The mission of Deerfield Beach Community Cares is to support our community through collaboration, connection, and inclusion, to promote wellness through community-driven initiatives, and to invest in sustainable improvements to the livelihoods of individuals and families. Their vision is to build a more diverse, equitable, and vibrant community where everyone reaches their full potential by improving their mental, physical, social, and emotional well-being.
Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program
A subsidiary of Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, the mission of the Statewide Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program (FHCVP) is to prevent blindness and provide comprehensive eye health/vision exams and prescription eyeglasses at no cost to financially disadvantaged students in grades Pre-K thru 12. These no cost services are offered statewide, either on-site at schools via five mobile eye clinics or by their network of over 1,100 participating optometrists statewide.
