Health screenings for kids offered

Early detection of health problems in young people is key to finding solutions, so a group of community organizations are holding a health screening program for children 5 and younger next week.

The sessions will be at the centrally located Van Orsdel United Methodist Church Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Children through 2 years of age are invited to come Tuesday, where they will undergo a series of screenings for vision, hearing and a host of other tests.

Wednesday and Thursday, the children 5 and younger can undergo the tests. Organizers hope they will be so busy, they will have to continue the program into Friday.

Groups ranging from Northern Montana Health Care to the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind to the Hill County Health Department will offer services, said Karla Geda, the special education director at Havre Public Schools.

Tests will help determine problems the young people may have with eyes, ears, motor skills and cognitive skills.

All kinds of information will be available on programs that are of interest to young people, she said.

For instance, Plant a Seed ... READ, a program that encourages reading among young people, will set up a table with information.

Geda said the services offered at the program are invaluable and will be helpful in spotting problems in young people early in their lives.

She praised all the community organizations that work to help put on the program.

Van Orsdel United Methodist Church is easy to access from most areas in the city, she said.

It is important, though, that people make an appointment, she stressed.

People interested should call the Havre Public Schools at 265-4356, ext. 6704, for more information or to set up an appointment.