Partnership Between Head Start and Vision Service Plan
ACYF-IM-HS-97-12

NOTICE: This Issuance has been withdrawn or superseded. It is provided for historical reference only and has no current applicability or effect.

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INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

TO: All Head Start Grantee and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: Partnership between Head Start and Vision Service Plan

BACKGROUND: Vision Service Plan (VSP), a nationwide network of licensed optometrists, ophthalmologists and laboratories participated in the President's Summit for America's Future held in Philadelphia earlier this year, and pledged to provide eye exams and eye glasses for needy children throughout the nation. As a result, VSP has proposed to the Head Start Bureau a collaborative partnership. VSP would provide eye care services, at no charge, to 7,000 Head Start children not covered by any form of health insurance who are in need of further examination and eyeglasses. This collaborative partnership is part of VSP's "Sight for Students" program founded several years ago.

INFORMATION: Participation in this program is voluntary and services will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis. Attached to this memorandum (ATTACHMENT A) is information that describes the steps necessary to participate in this program and the benefits covered, along with an order form (ATTACHMENT B). Head Start programs wishing to participate in this effort are to identify children (including siblings up to the age of eighteen) who failed their vision screening and, due to financial reasons, are unable to obtain follow-up diagnosis and treatment. Children enrolled in Medicaid are not eligible to participate.

Head Start staff, in partnership with parents, are to complete a Sights for Student Application. As supplies last, Head Start programs will be sent a claim form from VSP for each student, along with a listing of VSP providers in their area. After the forms are received, Head Start Programs will work with families to select providers and give them with a claims form for their child. Selected providers will provide the service and submit the claim form to VSP.

VSP is asking that programs provide them with stories of children who were positively affected by this program (ATTACHMENT C). VSP is not, however, asking for the names of these children.

Also attached to this memorandum is a Fact Sheet on Vision Testing that can be found in the soon to be published Head Start Training Guide for the Learning Community entitled "Well-Child Health Care" (ATTACHMENT D). This fact sheet briefly describes the key features of vision testing and why it is important for young children.

/S/
Helen H. Taylor
Associate Commissioner
Head Start Bureau

ATTACHMENT A: Sights for Students Information
ATTACHMENT B: Sights for Students Order-Form
ATTACHMENT C: Stories of Success
ATTACHMENT D: Fact Sheet: Vision Testing

cc:

Regional Administrators, ACF, Regions I-X
American Indian and Migrant Programs Branch