Chicago (June 29, 2010) – Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization, has established the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health, made possible by a multi-year cooperative agreement from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), a bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The new program is designed to serve as a major resource for the establishment of a public health infrastructure to advance and promote children’s vision and eye care, as well as provide leadership development, health promotion, education, and training to public and private entities throughout the United States.
As part of the first phase of the new initiative, Prevent Blindness America has formed the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health National Expert Panel comprised of leading professionals in ophthalmology, optometry, pediatrics, public health, academia, family representatives and other related fields who have a vested interest in the field of children’s vision and eye health. Members of the Expert Panel will provide recommendations for national and statewide strategies to develop public health infrastructure that ensures early detection and a continuum of vision and eye care for children through improved quality measures, data systems and screening guidelines. In addition, they will serve as advisors to the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health as it pursues its core goal of promoting and ensuring a continuum of vision and eye care for the nation’s children.
The National Expert Panel is chaired by Dr. Shirley Russ, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Health Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Russ is also a member of the Department of Academic Primary Care Pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Serving as Chair Advisors are Dr. Joseph M. Miller, MPH, Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Professor and Head of Ophthalmology and Vision Science at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine, and Dr. Sandra S. Block, Professor of Optometry at Illinois College of Optometry and Public Health Committee member of Prevent Blindness America.
The panel will convene for the first time on July 11 in Chicago, and will receive an introduction and overview of current projects and future goals, presented by Bonnie Strickland, PhD of the MCHB. The committee will also develop processes and implementation strategies designed to put children on the path of a lifetime of healthy vision.
“The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health was created to assist the more than 12 million school-age children who have some form of vision problem,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. “This unique initiative is bringing together some of the brightest minds in the field of vision and public health to help protect the precious gift of sight for our kids.”
For more information on the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health, children’s vision and eye health or what you can do to help advocate for children’s vision and eye health, please call Prevent Blindness America at (800) 331-2020 or visit preventblindness.org.
Download the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health press release.
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation's leading patient and consumer advocate dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening, training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, divisions and chapters, it's committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020.
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