LEAD ELIMINATION PLAN

The Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Elimination Plan Implementation and Oversight Committee (IOC) monitors the implementation and evaluation of the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Elimination Plan.

Wisconsin has adopted the mission to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Wisconsin by 2010. In 2004, a broad-based group of statewide stakeholders developed a strategic plan to achieve this ambitious goal. Review the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Elimination Plan. Learn more.  

Implementing and evaluating the elimination plan is actively ongoing. The statewide advisory group, IOC, meets three times per year (January, May and September) to track the progress of the subcommittees and make recommendations for action. View a list of IOC members.

Four subcommittees were formed to implement the activities included in the four major areas of the elimination plan: Correcting Lead Hazards in Housing, Education of Targeted Audiences, Resources and Funding, and Targeting High-Risk Populations for Blood Lead Testing.  

The subcommittees meet on a regular basis throughout the year, independently of the IOC, and report their progress at each IOC meeting. Learn more about current efforts and the four subcommittees as they develop and implement strategies to move the Elimination Plan forward.

Contact the subcommittee chairs for meeting dates, or join a subcommittee.

BLOOD LEAD TESTING

The Targeting High-Risk Populations for Blood Lead Testing Subcommittee focuses on:

• Assuring age-appropriate testing of all children enrolled in Medicaid and 
• Providing blood lead testing for all children who are uninsured or under-insured.

Blood Lead Testing of Medicaid Children Improves
All Medicaid children are considered high-risk for lead poisoning. Therefore, all children enrolled in Medicaid must receive a blood lead test at about 12 and 24 months of age and ages 3 to 5, if not previously tested. In June 2008, 1,770 Medicaid providers who saw 25 or more Medicaid children in their office within a one-year timeframe received the third annual individualized report of their blood lead testing rates for children under age 6. Analysis of the data from year 2 to 3 showed more than 50% of the providers improved testing of 1- and 2-year-olds and 33% improved testing of 3- to 5-year-olds not previously tested.  View a sample Medicaid Provider Report Card.

Solutions Developed to Address Blood Testing Barriers
Learn more about barriers to testing children for lead poisoning.

Physicians Recognized for Improving Blood Lead Testing Rates
United HealthCare Wisconsin presented awards at a recognition banquet to honor health care providers with the highest rates of lead testing for Medicaid children. Learn more.

HOUSING

The Correcting Lead Hazards in Housing Subcommittee seeks regulatory and preventive avenues to identify and control lead hazards in high-risk housing where children under age 6 reside or spend a significant amount of time.

Homes, Child Care Facilities and Schools Affected by New Lead Paint Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a Renovation, Remodeling and Painting (RRP) rule that will affect paint-disturbing work conducted in residential properties and child-occupied facilities built before 1978. Disturbing lead-based paint and dust during renovation can be a serious health hazard for occupants, workers and their families-especially young children.

Learn more about the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule.

EDUCATION

The Education Subcommittee works to provide key stakeholders, parents and caregivers with the knowledge, skills and motivation to take effective action to protect children from lead poisoning.

Report on the Legacy of Childhood Lead Poisoning Offers Priority Solutions for Wisconsin
Childhood lead poisoning still affects more than 2,000 children each year in Wisconsin. Repeatedly, studies on the effects of childhood lead poisoning have found:

• Lead interferes with the normal development of a child's brain and can result in lower IQ, learning disabilities, behavior problems like aggression and hyperactivity.
• Childhood lead poisoning is a powerful predictor of school disciplinary problems, juvenile delinquency and adult criminality.
• Even with low lead exposure (blood lead level below 10 micrograms/deciliter), children are at greater risk of a shortened lifespan due to heart disease or stroke as an adult.

The solution to preventing lead poisoning of children is prioritizing and fixing the lead hazards in Wisconsin's old homes. Read this compelling report or contact the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at (608) 266-5817 for a printed copy.

FUNDING AND RESOURCES

The Funding and Resources Subcommittee seeks funds to control lead hazards in housing to prevent lead poisoning.   

Congress Provides New Funds for Housing
One of the new programs created by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 is called the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). The NSP uses the successful U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant program to distribute funds to communities to buy and redevelop abandoned dwellings to benefit areas of great need. Learn more.   

Recovery Act Adds $100 Million for Lead Hazard Control
The $789 billion national economic recovery package was signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17 in Denver. The legislation includes an additional $100 million in funds for lead hazard control. In 2008, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development had already awarded $131 million in grants nationwide for lead hazard control and healthy homes. Thus the "stimulus package" effectively doubles available funding.

Learn more about healthy housing initiatives in the Recovery Act.       

Advocates to Rally at State Capitol to Fix Old Houses and Protect Young Children
Wisconsin advocates for lead-safe housing will meet with legislators at the state Capitol in Madison on March 18. They will urge legislative support for a proposed new home renovation loan program to address lead-based paint hazards in old homes.

Eliminating lead-based paint hazards in homes is the most effective way to prevent childhood lead poisoning. Homes built before 1950 are at the greatest risk for having lead-based paint hazards. Over 400,000 Wisconsin homes were built before 1950 and have lead-based paint hazards.

Through the proposed loan program, homeowners and rental property owners will be able to apply for low-cost loans for major home renovation to control lead-based paint hazards. Funding under consideration for this loan program is a 50 cents per gallon fee on paint sold in Wisconsin.

This daylong event begins at 10 a.m. at the state Capitol. Legislators, rental property owners, family advocates, health and housing officials and others will join together for a public discussion about solutions to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Wisconsin. Following this discussion, citizens will visit with their respective legislators to ask for support. 

For more information on participating in this event, contact George Carns, Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin, at (414) 292-4003. Download a registration form.

GRASSROOTS EFFORTS

Homeownership Program to Stabilize Neighborhood and Lead Hazards
Wisconsin's plan to eliminate childhood lead poisoning requires strategic efforts at the national, state and local community level. In this first issue of kids unLEADed the spotlight is on the Dominican Center for Women and their neighborhood housing and stabilization program in the city of Milwaukee. Learn more about the Dominican Center Neighborhood Project.

"The aim of this project," says Sister Anne Halloran, who heads the Dominican Center, "is to form community through home ownership." Along the way, lead-based paint hazards are addressed and these homes become both safe and affordable.

For example, the Dominican Center got a tax-forfeited property from the city and sold it to Nicole Lester for $750 and a lot of sweat equity, which she invested in the house and in the houses of other people in the neighborhood social service agency's 7-year-old homeownership program. The center has helped more than 67 women own a home over the past 5 years and 61 remain in their homes providing stability to the neighborhood.

In February, the Center received a $147,000 grant from the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund which will be used to house about 10 families.

From a Journal Sentinel online article by Patrick McIlheron, "fixing city one owner at a time," posted June 21, 2008.