PARTNERSHIP EFFORTS

Healthy Homes House: Teaching Kids about Lead
Children in Head Start in Kenosha and Racine learn how to prevent lead poisoning through interactive play in a "healthy home" and watching a video starring Elmo from Sesame Street. Read more.

Cardinal Environmental, Inc. Joins in Public Health Education Efforts
As the new Wisconsin Lead-Safe Renovation Rule goes into effect (see Housing ), efforts to educate those affected by the rule have ramped up significantly in the last several months. Cardinal Environmental, Inc. has invited the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and the Lead Certification Program to join them at the School Safety Expo in March to discuss with school personnel how schools built before 1978 will be impacted by the rule. Public and private partnerships can often provide just the right mix to get the message out. Read more.

Serve as a Voice for Children on March 17
Join community leaders, health care workers, housing advocates and members of the Wisconsin Apartment Association on March 17 for a "Day at the Capitol." Join your voice with others to help educate state legislators on the Lead-Safe Renovation Rule (see Housing ) and the need to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. This event will include presentations from top state officials and policy makers and introduce a legislative joint resolution on eliminating childhood lead poisoning. The day's events will begin at 10:00 a.m. and conclude in the afternoon, with lunch provided. Mark March 17 on your calendar. Please contact Sarah Chang at Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin to participate or receive additional information.

HOUSING

Wisconsin Modifies Rule to Protect Children from Lead During Renovation
Wisconsin was the first state in the nation to receive EPA authorization to implement a state program for lead-safe renovation. Implementing the Lead-Safe Renovation Rule will help continue to reduce childhood exposure to lead-based paint and dust through training and educating contractors on lead-safe work practices. Information sessions held in 18 communities throughout the state in January, February and March reached out to contractors, trades people, and rental property owners to help them understand what is necessary to comply with this program. Outreach sessions thus far have reached over 900 people. Read more.

Wisconsin Will Address Lead Hazards in Housing Across State 

• Families in Wisconsin communities have access to new financial resources to correct lead paint hazards in their homes and to protect their young children from lead exposure. The Wisconsin Department of Commerce publishes a list of housing resources and programs including new lead hazard control programs. The federal funds to fix lead paint hazards must benefit families living in private housing built before 1978 with low to moderate incomes. These can be either renter or owner occupied dwellings.  Learn more. 
• Two new HUD grants will be used to reduce lead-based paint hazards in 550 Wisconsin homes in Dane, Kenosha and Rock Counties and the City of Racine. Read more.

February is National Heart Month - Lead is Connected
Did you know that people who were lead-poisoned as children are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke as adults? Lead plays a role in the formation of plaque in blood vessels (arteriosclerosis), causing oxidative stress and damage to cells in a process similar to how oxygen rusts metal. This is one more reason to prevent childhood lead poisoning because of the link between early exposure to lead and increased risk for heart disease as adults. Read more.

Kids unLEADed E-newsletter Surpasses Expectations
More than 500 people received kids unLEADed: Working together to end childhood lead poisoning e-newsletter in 2009. The first issue was published in February, another in June and October. Of those that received it more than 27 percent opened the e-newsletter. According to public relations standards, anything above 20 percent is a clear indication of reader interest. Read October 2009 issue.

Health Disparities Brief Recommends Housing Resources
WCCF blog posting, 2/02/10: "WCCF's latest WisKids Count Issue Brief, 'Building on our Strength: Achieving Equity in Health Outcomes for Children and Families in Wisconsin,' takes on the issue of health disparities in Wisconsin based on race and ethnicity. Largely rooted in social and community factors, Wisconsin's gap is one of the most egregious in the country. To that end, we make several recommendations, including...--Provide additional resources for loans to assist landlords and homeowners with lead abatement efforts." Read more.

Health Care Providers to Gain Access to Blood Lead Testing History through the Wisconsin Immunization Registry Portal
The Wisconsin Blood Lead Registry Application on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) is scheduled to be available to health care providers in 2010. In the past, providers did not have ready access to a child's blood lead testing history when the tests were done at another provider's office. The Wisconsin Blood Lead Registry Application will be accessed from within the WIR to allow the child's health care provider to see if a child is due for a lead test while in the clinic. Read more.