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Prevent Blindness America Reports Successful Integration of State Vision Health Programs

February 1, 2012 12:18 AM

CHICAGO—A recently released report from Prevent Blindness America (PBA), with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), states that millions of Americans are facing visual impairment and blindness. Titled “The Vision Connection: Integrating Vision into State Health Programs,” the report includes examples of successful partnerships between PBA affiliates and public health entities in states including Georgia, Ohio, Texas and the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and provides details on the positive effect that vision health initiatives and programs can have on communities across the country.

“We hope that the Vision Connection report will serve as just a small example of how state entities can work together to have a tremendous impact on communities across the country,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of PBA, adding, “We also would like to thank the CDC for their continued support and commitment to protecting vision.”

The Vision Connection summaries include:
• Developing State Partnerships: Prevent Blindness Texas established a partnership with the Office of Border Health at the Texas Department of State Health Services.
• Partner Contributions: Prevent Blindness Georgia partnered with the state health department, public health organizations, and individuals who work with older adults to organize the Georgia Vision Institute.
• Vision Integration with a Diabetes Program: In a public-private partnership, Prevent Blindness Tri-state and the New York State Department of Health worked to integrate vision information into a state health department chronic disease program by creating materials that showed the direct impact that diabetes has on vision.
• Sustainable Impact of Long-Term Partnerships: Prevent Blindness Ohio established the Ohio “Vision…Awaken to the Challenge” conference to bring together leading policymakers, government officials, health care providers and social service agencies, leading to the establishment of state-wide programs.

For more information and a full version of the report, visit preventblindness.org.
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