HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 30

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Ray Begaye

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, IN COOPERATION WITH THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF REQUIRING VISION, HEARING AND DENTAL SCREENING IN SCHOOLS.

     WHEREAS, vision impairment in young children can result in permanent loss of vision if not detected and treated before the age of six; and

     WHEREAS, national studies indicate that undiagnosed vision impairments are highest in children who live in poverty and who are members of minority populations; and

     WHEREAS, vision screening is known to be highly effective in detecting the leading causes of visual impairment in young children; and

     WHEREAS, a significant cost savings can be realized with vision screening using the American association of pediatrics guidelines as compared to routine eye examinations; and

     WHEREAS, vision screening is performed in many New Mexico schools, but is not standardized or required for all school-age children starting at preschool; and

     WHEREAS, more than a million children in the United States have a hearing loss that can significantly affect speech and language development and education; and

     WHEREAS, the state recognizes that even minimal hearing loss can affect the development, communication and health of children and their subsequent educational, vocational and social opportunities; and

     WHEREAS, according to the federal centers for disease control, tooth decay remains one of the most common diseases of childhood; and

     WHEREAS, more than half of all children between ages five and nine have had at least one cavity or filling; and

     WHEREAS, according to the American academy of pediatrics, recommendations for preventive pediatric care, objective screenings for vision and hearing should be performed periodically on all infants and children; and

     WHEREAS, providing vision, hearing and dental screening in school supports the "one-stop shopping" concept and will help families in rural and frontier areas of the state to access these services;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health, in cooperation with the public education department, be requested to study the feasibility of requiring vision, hearing and dental screening in schools; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study identify opportunities to expand and standardize routine early vision, hearing and dental screening for infants and young children in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study determine how to standardize and implement training on vision, hearing and dental screening for all school nurses; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study recommend a process for referral of all children who fail any of the three screenings at any age to the appropriate professional and develop a standardized referral form to be used by school nurses for this purpose; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the findings of this study be presented to the legislative health and human services committee at its November 2006 meeting; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be sent to the secretary of health and the secretary of public education.

- 3 -