Helping homeless children get ready for school

About 3,500 children in metro Atlanta will be living in homeless shelters or group homes during the 2007-08 school year, said Jim Cox and Cliff Kinsey, founders of Children's Restoration Network. Thanks to the organization's fund-raising efforts and Back 2 School event, those children started the school year with new backpacks and school supplies.

Everything they need won't fit in a backpack, however. Thanks to the volunteer services of nursing faculty and students at Georgia State University and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, many children also got free physical examinations.

"About 12 or 14 years ago, Cliff Kinsey came to me and asked if we could help make sure the kids are healthy and ready for school," said Myra Carmon, associate professor of nursing at Georgia State. "We've been part of the Back 2 School event, which is also the first Sunday in August, ever since."

This year, five faculty members and 10 Georgia State graduate and undergraduate nursing students performed more than 100 physicals at My Sister's House, which is part of the Atlanta Union Mission.

Children entering a new school are required to have physicals and health forms filled out. Homeless children tend to be more transient and switch schools more often, and usually have limited access to health care, Carmon explained.

The nurses performed vision, hearing, hemoglobin and other routine checks. A mobile Colgate van provided free dental screenings and referrals to dental clinics.

When giving check-ups and filling out forms, the nurses often diagnose health problems that could become much more serious is left untreated.

"We see a lot of ear and other infections. Some kids have blood-pressure problems, low hemoglobin [levels], anemia or heart murmurs," Carmon said. The nurses also find skin infections and vision problems.

One of the department secretaries takes notes and refers parents to clinics and places where they can find low-cost or free services.

"Children go to school for an education, but they have to be healthy to succeed," Carmon said. "We feel like we're helping keep them in school, and the families are so appreciative."