Community Health Charities of Florida - August 2011

Children across the country are getting ready to go back to school. During this time of year, parents are often reminded about the usual back-to-school health tips – make sure immunizations are up to date, don’t go to school with a fever, visit the dentist. But what about eye health, which can dramatically affect a child’s ability to learn? Or recognizing the signs of depression in a young elementary student? 

Community Health Charities is partnering with two member agencies, Prevent Blindness Georgia and Mental Health America of Georgia, to discuss eye health and mental health for all students. From pre-K to grade 12, both charities will provide information that all parents need to know.

“It’s Never Too Early to Give Your Child an A+ in Health”

Topic Overview: Prevent Blindness Georgia

Vision problems are the leading handicap of children. During the past school year, PBGA screened more than 33,000 Georgia 4-year-olds and referred 5.9% of them to an eye care professional for further evaluation. If detected at this early age, children’s eye conditions – which can ultimately lead to learning difficulties, delayed development and even blindness – can often be corrected with prescription eyeglasses or patching to strengthen the weak eye.  PBGA will discuss the importance of vision screening for all young children, the signs and symptoms of children’s vision problems, the most common eye problems found in children and more.

Topic Overview: Mental Health America of Georgia

Approximately 1 of every 5 American children experiences a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder.  The numbers for depression alone in American children and adolescents exceed 1.5 million.  Believe it or not, most mental illnesses have onset in childhood or adolescence – and when they go unresolved, can lead to problems with social relationships, school performance and substance abuse.  Without treatment, children with mental disorders are at a greater risk of more severe illnesses later in life.  Join this webinar to learn the signs and symptoms of mental illness in children and adolescents, as well as the resources available for prevention and treatment. 

About Prevent Blindness Georgia

The mission of PBGA is to preserve a lifetime of sight for all Georgians – especially children, seniors and those without access to eye care – through vision screenings, eye exams and public education. PBGA was established in 1965 as an affiliate of Prevent Blindness America, the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization. With a focus on promoting a continuum of vision care, PBGA touches the lives of thousands of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, and community and patient service programs.  To learn more, please visit www.pbga.org.

About the Speaker: Jenny Pomeroy

Jenny Pomeroy has served as President/CEO of Prevent Blindness Georgia since 1996. Under her leadership, PBGA has tripled in service delivery and budget while offering new programs for public education, training and vision care services. Jenny was among the first instructors trained to teach the Prevent Blindness America certified vision screening course for adults and children in 1997. She continues to teach school nurses, public health nurses and pediatric offices how to vision screen. Jenny also led the advocacy effort in 1999 to create the Drive for Sight program to fund vision services in Georgia. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia.

About Mental Health America of Georgia

MHA of Georgia is the state’s affiliate of National Mental Health America, our country’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and illness. Through health fairs, seminars, trainings, advocacy and other programming, MHA of Georgia works to raise awareness about mental wellness among consumers, their families, health care providers and the general public.  One of our oldest and most successful education programs for children is Kids on the Block, a nationwide prevention program that utilizes puppetry to teach children about various topics, including mental, physical, and developmental disabilities.  To learn more, please visit www.mhageorgia.org.

About the Speaker: Sarah Schwartz

Sarah Schwartz has over 16 years of experience in the healthcare industry.  Her knowledge of the field includes providing therapy to adults and children, in-depth clinical trials work in psychiatry and health administration experience. Presently, Sarah is the Executive Director of Mental Health America of Georgia, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the mental health of all Georgians through education, outreach, and advocacy. Sarah holds Masters of Business Administration & Healthcare Administration degrees from Georgia State University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Emory University.