Auburn University College of Nursing (AUCON) plays a pivotal role in supporting the health and well-being of children, particularly through its involvement in initiatives like Alabama’s First Class Pre-K (FCPK) program. Launched in 2001 as the Alabama Voluntary Pre-K pilot program, FCPK was designed to prepare four-year-olds for academic success and lifelong learning. Today, the program has expanded statewide, reaching all 67 counties in Alabama, and has earned the highest quality rating from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) for 17 consecutive years.
Dr. Amy Curtis, an associate clinical professor at AUCON, has been a key contributor to children’s health initiatives in Alabama since 2010. Initially focused on scoliosis screenings, Dr. Curtis expanded her work to include Pre-K screenings in Tallapoosa County, which was among the first counties to participate in the state’s expanded Pre-K program. “Over the years, I’ve also worked with other counties like Lee, Macon, Chambers, and Barbour to provide essential health screenings,” Curtis shared.
According to Dr. Linda Gibson-Young, AUCON’s Outreach Coordinator, Dr. Curtis’s efforts are part of a larger outreach program designed to integrate health services into school-based education. “Curtis collaborates closely with Tallapoosa County schools and Auburn’s Early Education program to provide these vital screenings,” Gibson-Young explained. AUCON further extends its outreach to other counties, including Bullock, Chambers, Lee, and Macon, through the TigerCheck™ program, a key initiative coordinated by Auburn faculty and staff.
Preschool is often a child's first structured educational experience and ensuring that their hearing and vision are in good condition provides a solid foundation for future learning. Proactively addressing these sensory needs sets the stage for a positive attitude toward education and success in the classroom.
Curtis highlights the significance of health screenings and early intervention. “Screening tests help detect health issues that may not yet show symptoms, giving us the chance for early intervention that can lead to better long-term health outcomes,” she said. Each year, Curtis and a team of nursing students from AUCON visit schools in Tallapoosa County, including Dadeville Elementary, Reeltown Elementary, and Horseshoe Bend, to conduct Pre-K health screenings. “We send six to ten undergraduate and 1 or 2 graduate nursing students each fall to perform these screenings, working with 24 to 30 children annually,” Dr. Curtis explained.
For nursing students, these hands-on experiences are crucial. "School nurses play an essential role in children's health, providing screenings from Pre-K through high school. Through these screenings, students learn the importance of early health assessments, which can identify potential issues before they become serious,” said Curtis.
A vital partner in the screenings is Tammy Templeton, Lead School Nurse for Tallapoosa County Schools. “The Alabama Department of Education mandates health screenings for Pre-K students at no cost to parents,” Templeton explained. “Parents must give consent for their children to undergo vision, hearing, dental, and physical tests annually, and all Pre-K students must complete their screenings by October 31st each year, unless parents opt out.” If any issues are detected during the screenings, parents are notified by phone and letter. "Sometimes a child may not pass a screening on the first attempt due to nervousness or misunderstanding, and in those cases, the school nurse will conduct a rescreening," Templeton added.
The screenings include vision, hearing, vital signs, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). Vision Research handles the vision screenings, while local dental professionals provide dental screenings. “The nursing students are well-prepared for these tasks,” Templeton said, praising the training provided by AUCON. “Before conducting the screenings, they participate in hands-on demonstrations to ensure they are confident and comfortable with the procedures. The school nurse typically provides this training.”
Templeton reflected on her long-standing collaboration with AUCON, noting that her partnership with Dr. Barbara Wilder, (an instrumental faculty member with the initial screening) laid the foundation for their work together. “When Tallapoosa County joined the First Class Pre-K program in 2013, we integrated the Pre-K screenings into the fall schedule with the help of AUCON. Dr. Curtis has been an invaluable partner in this effort, and Dr. Gibson-Young’s work with the TigerCheck™ program has been key to expanding our outreach,” Templeton said.
Early pediatric screenings are crucial for detecting developmental issues early, enabling timely interventions that can significantly impact a child’s future success. Ensuring that children are healthy and prepared for learning is essential. While academic readiness is important, addressing health factors like vision and hearing is equally critical. Hearing and vision screenings in preschool provide vital insights into a child’s development, ensuring that any issues are addressed early, so children can fully engage in their educational experiences.
