During this past fiscal year, which ended on June 30th, the KidSight Colorado Program screened our 500,000th child! What an incredible milestone! This is a testament to the wonderful work of hundreds of KidSight volunteers across the state since the start of the program in 2001. Our program will celebrate our 20-year anniversary in 2021 so we have much to be thankful for and lots to celebrate. THANK YOU!
KidSight in the Time of Coronavirus
KidSight Colorado has established guidelines for vision screening which are directed towards protecting the health and safety of the children we screen as well as that of the Lions performing the screening. Volunteers who do not wish to conduct screenings during this pandemic are not obligated to do so. KidSight volunteers who want to work can resume screening with new safety procedures which have been developed. “At risk” Lions may want to consider not participating in on site screening but are encouraged to participate in the KidSight program by scheduling screenings by telephone or participating in other at home activities.
KidSight Colorado will follow all National, State and Local guidelines on social distancing and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). All KidSight Colorado volunteers must wear masks as required under Colorado guidelines. KidSight Colorado will provide reusable Face Shields which should be worn by all volunteers operating the Plusoptix equipment (please contact me to have them sent to you). Face Shields should be sanitized with a Lysol (or other similar brand wipe) after each screening session . Face Shields provide an extra measure of safety for volunteers and an extra level of comfort for vision screening sites.
If your club works with a school district or Head Start screening under the Colorado state mandate or Head Start guidelines please contact the school district or Head Start to determine if schools will be held in person and whether the district wants to schedule screening. Most districts schedule vision screenings in the fall so they may already have screening dates in place. Head Start is required to conduct vision screenings within 45 days of the start of the school year. If a district wants to schedule screenings and your club does not feel comfortable conducting screenings, please contact me and I can arrange for the screening to be completed.
Daycares and early childhood education sites are usually more flexible regarding screening dates. You can certainly contact all previous screening sites and suggest an appropriate date when you plan to conduct screenings. I have spoken to several clubs who plan to do this kind of screening beginning in January 2021 or later. I recommend contacting sites you have previously visited so that you can let them know about the delay or you can schedule this fall for a future time period.
PDG Holly Rutherford-Allen Executive Director
Colorado Lions KidSight Program
720-325-7078
holly@kidsightcolorado.org (email)
www.kidsightcolorado.org (website)