Kidcheck Initiative improves health of rural students

State health officials hope to help kids stay in school with health screenings at school.

For the last seven years, Kidcheck has used volunteers to screen the health of K-12 students. Some of the volunteers are nursing students.  .

Ear checks, eye charts and a blood pressure check… they are just some of the health screenings during what’s called Kidcheck. It’s a state-run initiative to improve the health of the state’s students in rural areas. Today, students at Locust Fork High School are taking their turn.

Locust Fork High School Principal Daniel Smith said, “Numerous medical conditions that may not be seen in these children come to light and they’re caught in early stages which preventive measures is what we’re looking for.“

Blount County Schools was one of the first districts to sign up for Kidcheck.  1,100 kids will be seen here at Locust Fork High School and Elementary School, 30,000 statewide. These health screenings are all free thanks to community partners and volunteers like these Wallace State nursing students.

Blount Co. Nurse Supervisor Barbara Robertson said, “This is a good clinical experience for the student nurses.  They get to see a lot that they may not see in a hospital.“

Without Kidcheck, students may not get insurance and the medical help they need.

Robertson said, “I really believe they would go unnoticed. I believe we would see more kids with vision problems, you’re going to have more kids with toothaches trying to sit in the classroom and learn.“

Following the screenings, parents receive a report and assistance for children needing additional care. Kidcheck is in more than 30 school systems across Alabama.