That the City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to execute an Affiliation Agreement with the Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Department of Ophthalmology, to provide vision care for the children enrolled in the City's Child Development Division programs, and provide further assessments for those who fail the annual vision screening for the 2022-2023 School Year.

The City has partnered with UCI since 2014 to provide vision screening for children enrolled in the City's Child Development program.  The partnership is funded through grants received by UCI, allowing children (infants through preschool age) enrolled in the City's Child Development program to be screened for ophthalmological concerns during the school year.  Screening is the first step in getting to know a child, establishing "baseline" healthcare data, and helping staff plan and identify red flags that may require further examination or evaluation.

Timely vision screening (coupled with an eye examination when needed) is an important step toward early detection of any potential vision problems. Young children rarely complain when they cannot see well because, to them, impaired vision is normal.  Early detection can lead to effective intervention and restoration of vision, and because children use all their senses to learn, efforts to improve a child's visual skills can represent a positive contribution to a child's school readiness.

UCI supports local vision screening through a grant that covers costs associated with assessments.  Approximately 200 children in the City's Child Development preschool and family child care programs will be scheduled for screening if this agreement is approved. Prior to the screening, a Parental Consent form must be completed for each child. Those children who fail the vision screening will receive additional vision care through UCI from qualified doctors and specialists, which may include more comprehensive vision screening and the provision of reading glasses, if needed, at no cost to the family. 

The City's past partnership with UCI has been well received by the families who participate in the La Habra Child Development programs, and of the approximately 200 children screened each year, approximately 35 children, on average, receive follow-up care and prescription glasses. As an added bonus to the program, UCI will replace broken glasses one time each school year for children who are enrolled in the program. 

The services provided by UCI are free to both the City and the program participants through a grant given to UCI Department of Ophthalmology as part of their community outreach program.  No General Funds are used to support this program.