Seeing the Whole Child: Why Vision Care Matters for Youth in Foster Care
Happi Grillon
A new policy brief from PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia highlights the unique barriers youth in foster care face in accessing consistent vision care and offers recommendations for improving outcomes. The findings reinforce what CASA volunteers see every day: even seemingly small unmet needs, like a missing pair of glasses, can have a profound impact on a child's well-being and future.
Why Vision Care Matters
Children in foster care often experience multiple placements, changes in caregivers, and disruptions in medical care. During these transitions, glasses or contact lenses may be lost, caregivers may not know about a child's vision needs, and follow-up appointments can easily fall through the cracks.
Untreated vision problems can affect every aspect of a young person's life. Difficulty seeing can contribute to academic struggles, behavioral challenges, and missed developmental opportunities. For children who have experienced trauma, poor vision may even intensify feelings of hypervigilance and anxiety as they struggle to make sense of their surroundings. Early identification and treatment are essential because some vision conditions can lead to permanent impairment if left untreated.
Every Adult Has a Role to Play
The policy brief emphasizes that supporting children's vision is a shared responsibility among health care providers, schools, child welfare agencies, courts, foster parents, and advocates. Regular screenings, timely referrals, transportation assistance, clear documentation, and communication across systems can help ensure children receive the care they need.
This collaborative approach closely aligns with CASA's model of advocacy.
How CASA Volunteers Make a Difference
CASA volunteers are uniquely positioned to help bridge gaps in care because they remain a consistent presence in a child's life, even when placements and professionals change. Through regular visits, information gathering, and collaboration with everyone involved in the child's case, volunteers can help ensure vision needs are not overlooked.
A CASA volunteer can:
- Ask whether a child has received routine vision screenings and comprehensive eye exams.
- Ensure glasses or contact lenses move with the child during placement changes.
- Monitor whether follow-up appointments are scheduled and completed.
- Communicate with caregivers, schools, and case professionals about identified vision needs.
- Raise concerns about unmet health needs in court reports and advocate for services that support the child's well-being.
- Encourage discussions about vision care during child and family team meetings and other case planning conversations.
The policy brief specifically recommends sharing children's health information with advocates and ensuring vision needs are discussed whenever professionals gather to review a child's care plan; recommendations that reinforce the important role CASA volunteers already play.
Looking Beyond the Courtroom
CASA volunteers advocate for the whole child. Whether helping a student access special education services, supporting mental health treatment, or ensuring medical appointments are kept, volunteers recognize that children's success depends on meeting their basic health needs.
Sometimes, something as simple as a new pair of glasses can help a child read confidently in school, participate in activities, recognize familiar faces, and navigate the world with greater confidence.
By asking one more question, following up on one more appointment, or ensuring one more pair of glasses doesn't get left behind during a placement change, CASA volunteers help children see not only more clearly but also envision a brighter future.
At CASA of Philadelphia, we are proud to stand alongside our volunteers and community partners in advocating for comprehensive health care, educational success, and the opportunity for every child in foster care to thrive.