corporate care by Larry Criddle
Score 1 for Health	Deron Cherry (middle) with students from University of Health Sciences and Burke Elementary School.
Those who wish to do what is best for the children of the community could stand to learn a thing or two from the example being set by former Kansas City Chief's football player, Deron Cherry, and the staff of the University of Health Sciences. They have joined forces to help ensure that the basic health care needs of our community's children are being met. "Children are better able to achieve goals and succeed when their physical needs are met," says Cherry. "A healthy kid is a happy kid." The partnership of Cherry and the University of Health Sciences has resulted in the "Score 1 for Health" program, a program that has proven to be among Kansas City's most effective and successful outreach programs for children. Knowing that optimal health enhances a child's ability to learn, grow and to develop creatively, Cherry and his colleagues strive to promote health awareness. "Our aim is to help children attain their highest individual potential for health and well-being," says Nancy Farrand, nurse instructor at the University of Health Sciences, and one of the program's coordinators. Deron Cherry and Dr. Robert Ricci of the University of Health Sciences founded Score 1 in 1993, and Cherry has been essential to the success of this program. He has initiated several fund-raisers, such as his annual Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament. His efforts, combined with the expertise of the students and staff at the University of Health Sciences, have allowed "Score 1 for Health" to enhance the lives of Kansas City's children for nearly eight years. And there is no end of progress in sight. At the beginning of each school year, "Score 1 for Health" provides health-care screenings for elementary school children in the Kansas City area. This year screenings were provided for nineteen area elementary schools. Next year nine additional schools will be added, making the number of students receiving services nearly 10,000. The health screenings, done at local elementary schools, have proven to be invaluable. Coordinators of the screenings, Nancy Farrand and Annette Campbell, bring together a host of medical professionals to ensure the children receive quality care. Among those professionals assembled to help administer screenings are the school's nurse, several dentists and optometrists from the community and medical students and nurses from the University of Health Sciences. Providing the services at these annual screenings has become a vital part of the clinical training for the students at the University of Health Sciences. There are many different procedures that are performed during each screening. A "Score 1 for Health" screening is very thorough. It includes a blood-pressure check, a vision and hearing evaluation, a dental exam, and a body mass index calculation. When a screening is complete, each student has had an overall evaluation that is comparable to a basic physical. The information that students obtain from these screenings is very valuable. They use the information gathered in their screenings to become more aware of their health status and to set personal health goals. Many times the medical students assisting with the screenings form lasting relationship with students. They often do follow-up visits with students whom they feel may require assistance in reaching a desired goal. In several instances screenings have identified potential problems that would have interfered significantly in a child's learning process. Schools and the "Score 1 for Health" team, work together to communicate with parents and to help facilitate the needed intervention strategies. The overall worth of this program is immeasurable. Cherry believes that "with continued support from the many community-based benefactors, and the endless dedication by the hundreds of volunteers and professionals, we are destined for victory and the children are the real winners."
Return to Table of Contents