National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness Announces Call for Nominations for the 2016 “Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award”
Award Recognizes Outstanding Efforts to Improve Eye Health Services for Children in the United States
CHICAGO (April 26, 2016) – The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness(NCCVEH) has issued the call for nominations for the second annual “Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award.” The Award recognizes significant efforts by an individual or group of individuals to improve public health approaches for children’s vision and eye health at the state or national level. The deadline for submission is June 17, 2016.
The award was established by the NCCVEH Advisory Committee to commemorate Bonnie Strickland and her groundbreaking work to establish a comprehensive system for children’s vision in the United States. Strickland served as Director of the Division of Services for Children with Special Health Needs, Maternal and Child Health Bureau before her retirement in 2014.
Nominees for the Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award may include individuals (such as a parent advocate, legislator, or professional) or a group comprised of diverse stakeholders, including family and community leaders, who are implementing changes to improve children’s vision and eye health in the United States. Nominees should demonstrate an impact in one or more areas of a public health system supporting children’s vision:
- Key Stakeholder Engagement or Collaboration, including representation from families and diverse racial/ethnic/geographic and socio-economic levels target populations
- Training and Education
- Public Awareness
- Provision of Resources and/or Services
- Surveillance and Accountability
- Reduction of Health Disparities
- Infrastructure Development- Local, State, or National Level
The Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award Committee will review all nominations and select the award winner.
The Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award will be presented to the recipient at the NCCVEH annual meeting, Aug. 6, 2016, in Alexandria, Va. The award consists of a commemorative plaque, recognition and opportunity to present at the Annual Meeting, and roundtrip economy airfare for one to Alexandria, Va., along with one night of lodging. The award recipient will be featured on the website for the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health with an overview of their program.
The inaugural recipient of the Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award was The Pediatric Physicians’ Organization at Children’s (PPOC) based at the Boston Children’s Hospital in Brookline, Massachusetts. The PPOC was selected by the Award Committee for its consistent and on-going commitment to introducing proven and innovative new approaches to pediatric vision screening and care to providers and patients in the medical home setting.
“Our mission at Prevent Blindness is to help preserve and protect healthy vision, and as part of that, we want to recognize the efforts of those who are joining in this important cause,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “We invite all those who are making a difference in the lives of our kids to apply for this Award and share their ideas and successes so that others can use these concepts in their own communities.”
For more information or to submit a nomination for the 2016 Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award, please visit http://nationalcenter.preventblindness.org/content/bonnie-strickland-champion-childrens-vision-award, or contact Kira Baldonado at (800) 331-2020 or [email protected].
About the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. In 2009, Prevent Blindness established the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health, with funding and leadership support from the HRSA- Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Serving as a major resource for the establishment of a public health infrastructure, the National Center advances and promotes children’s vision and eye care, providing leadership and training to public entities throughout the United States. The National Center is advised by a committee of national experts and leaders from the fields of ophthalmology, optometry, pediatrics, nursing, family advocates and public health to guide the work and recommendations of the Center. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020. Or, visit us on the Web athttp://nationalcenter.preventblindness.org or www.facebook.com/preventblindness.