The power of an early learning community shines brightest when organizations bridge gaps to support a child in need. For Bartow Family and Health Coordinator Nina Rodriguez, a single routine vision screening turned into a multi-agency mission to protect a young boy’s future.
Sounding the Alarm: The First Step in Care Coordination
The journey began on January 26, 2026, when Nina performed an initial vision screening on a young student named Godley. The results flagged severe concerns: Myopia (OS) and Anisometropia. Recognizing the urgency, Nina issued an immediate referral for a complete eye exam.
When a high number of children at the center began receiving “Complete Exam Recommended” results, Nina knew a standard referral wouldn’t be enough. She sought a more comprehensive, in-depth evaluation for her students, triggering a chain reaction of community collaboration.
Activating the Network: Connecting Polk and Hillsborough Counties
Leveraging her professional network, Nina reached out to Pilar at Preserve Vision Florida, a contact from her previous work at the Children’s Board Family Resource Center in Hillsborough County. Though Bartow’s centers are located in Polk County, the outreach paid off immediately.
Angela Johnson from Preserve Vision Florida responded right away, revealing a specialized budget that extended services into Polk County. On May 18, 2026, the Preserve Vision Florida team arrived at the Bartow Center, delivering free, professional vision screenings to over 40 children.
The widespread screening yielded critical outcomes:
- Three children were identified as needing prescription glasses.
- One child was found to require specialized surgery to correct an eye gaze issue.
- The team immediately mobilized, contacted parents, delivered results, and directly scheduled follow-up appointments.
Navigating a Complex Referral Pathway
Among the cases, Godley’s situation was the most critical. Diagnosed with an extreme prescription of -11, he faced the real risk of losing sight in his left eye if left untreated. The severity of the prescription meant that standard optical labs could not manufacture the lenses.
Godley’s family diligently followed the coordinated care plan, navigating a complex medical pathway:
- Pediatrician Visit: The family followed through on the initial screening referral.
- Specialist Referral: The pediatrician referred Godley to a children’s health center.
- Regional Center Routing: The children’s health center directed the family to the Children’s Eyewear Center in Orlando.
However, specialized lenses came with a prohibitive price tag. With the Orlando center no longer a viable option due to financial barriers, the care network stepped back in.
Overcoming Barriers to Care
Nina re-engaged the team at Preserve Vision Florida. Jennifer and her colleagues worked behind the scenes to secure a partnership with Target Optical in Tampa, which agreed to fulfill the complex prescription.
The final hurdle was logistical: Godley’s family lacked the means to travel from Polk County to the Tampa clinic. Recognizing that care coordination must address social determinants of health like transportation, Grow Early Learning stepped forward with financial assistance from its sister nonprofit, the Foundation for Farmworkers. This funding allowed the family to secure reliable transportation to Tampa so Godley could be custom fitted for his frames.
A Triumphant Team Effort
The collaboration culminated in a heart-warming milestone when Godley’s parents shared a photo of Godley at Target Optical, surrounded by the team helping him see the world clearly. Godley’s custom glasses are now ready for collection.
This success story demonstrates what is possible when early education centers, nonprofit health organizations, specialized medical centers, corporate partners, and internal funding networks work together to remove life-altering barriers. Grow Early Learning is proud of the community partners whose coordination across family, health, and funding networks helped improve a child’s school readiness and overall quality of life.
About Grow Early Learning
Grow Early Learning provides high-quality and comprehensive Head Start services across ten states to almost 3,000 farmworker children each year. For more information on our mission-driven work and how to contribute, please visit: https://growearlylearning.org/
About the Foundation for Farmworkers
The Foundation for Farmworkers raises funds for Grow Early Learning families to recover from financial distress, to be free from the fear of family separation, and to pursue their educational goals. For more information about the Foundation and to contribute, please visit: https://foundationforfarmworkers.org/
