Education
See to Succeed Clinic Helps More Than 800 Students Receive Glasses
January 20 2023
CFISD continued offering free comprehensive eye exams and eyewear to students through the Houston Health Department’s See to Succeed program, which served 873 students from 58 campuses Jan. 9-12 at the Berry Center.
The See to Succeed initiative involved volunteers from the Houston Health Department, as well as volunteers throughout the CFISD community, all helping during the weeklong vision clinic for students between the ages of 6-18 who did not pass the state-mandated vision screenings conducted by school nurses. Approximately 200 students per day were examined and fitted for glasses at no cost to students or their families.
Walker Elementary School second grade student Nicole Williams tries on frames at the See to Succeed initiative hosted at the Berry Center. Approximately 200 students per day were examined and fitted for glasses over the week at no cost to students or their families.
An additional 270 students from Bane, Danish and Francone elementaries, along with students from Dean Middle School, will visit the Houston Health Department in February to participate in the See to Succeed clinic.
Participating students will have eyeglasses delivered to their home campuses.
“See to Succeed is an amazing program that serves as a safety net for students that may have barriers in receiving glasses,” said Jacy King, program manager for See to Succeed. “When students put those glasses on, they do better academically, behaviorally, and better all around. Seeing that immediate impact is the best feeling of all.”
Volunteers from the Houston Health Department, as well as volunteers throughout the CFISD community, helped during the weeklong vision clinic for students between the ages of 6-18 who did not pass the state-mandated vision screenings conducted by school nurses.
Each day, students were transported by CFISD buses to and from their home campuses to the Berry Center. Upon arrival, volunteers and See to Succeed employees greeted students and led them to the auditorium for registration. Students received stickers and packets to help identify them throughout the day. Students visited multiple stations, including pre-screening rooms and waiting areas, before seeing an optometrist.
Stations included distance acuity, color, stereo, near point of accommodation and conversion, slitlamp, auto refraction and refraction and optical frame selection.
Walker Elementary School second grade student Jonathan Salinas picks out a pair of frames to try on at the See to Succeed initiative held Jan. 9-12 at the Berry Center. Participating students will have glasses delivered to their home campuses in approximately four to eight weeks.
The entire screening process lasted between 2-4 hours per student. During their time at the Berry Center, students were accompanied by CFISD clinic assistants, who joined them as campus chaperones. Lunch was provided to students by CFISD nutrition services to ensure meals were not missed.
“One of the goals of school nurses is to not only promote health for students, but to help students also achieve academically,” said Melinda Hood, CFISD director of health services. “This is an event where the community comes together to help students achieve in the classroom. Seeing students ultimately receive their new set of glasses on their home campuses makes it all worth it.”
