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.

Statewide Meeting on Childhood Lead Poisoning Elimination Held in September
Great dialogue and outcomes were achieved at the IOC meeting held on September 15. An overview of data showed progress made over the past nine years in testing and reducing the rate of lead poisoned children. Major accomplishments were acknowledged, such as the Legacy of Lead report, Medicaid report cards for physicians, availability of lead test results through the Wisconsin Immunization Registry, successful advocacy at the Day at the Capitol event and the tremendous partnerships and collaborations that have been built among numerous organizations passionate about eliminating lead poisoning. IOC members embraced the work of each subcommittee; Housing and Resources, Education, and Blood Lead Testing, and discussed a strategic direction for the next two years. Highlights include:

• Focus on surveying existing local ordinances and enforcement, including influencing the inspection process.
• Send a letter on behalf of the IOC to the Department of Commerce endorsing more emphasis on housing renovation and lead hazard reduction as Commerce sets priorities.
• Support and assist communities in applying for federal funding.
• Expand education and advocacy outreach to organizations such as the PTA, CAP agencies, housing authorities, March of Dimes, Red Cross and disability rights advocacy organizations.
• Utilize current technology to engage families, such as Twitter and Facebook.
• Improve blood lead testing through data sharing, outreach to the Wisconsin Medical Society and WI chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and inclusion as a requirement of the electronic medical record. 

The subcommittees of the IOC will further develop these strategic directions and report back to the full IOC at the January 12, 2010 meeting.

Learn more.

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.  

Increase in Tested Children, Increase in Lead Poisoning Numbers
Childhood lead poisoning continues to be a problem in communities across Wisconsin. Twenty percent more children were tested in 2008 than were tested in 2006. Due to the increase in testing, 800 more children than anticipated were found to be lead poisoned in 2007 and 2008. Learn more.

Top Providers Awarded In Racine
In Racine, an awards banquet was held to honor four physicians and Head Start for their continued success in testing children for lead poisoning based on data from the third round of physician report cards issued by the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. Learn more .

Children's Community Health Plan Awards Providers for Increased Lead Testing Rates
Children's Community Health Plan (CCHP) and the Department of Health Services focused their efforts on improving the health of BadgerCare Plus children between age 1 and 5 who are at risk for lead poisoning. CCHP distributed $150,000 to providers who met the criteria to increase their blood lead testing rates or maintain already high levels of performance. Learn more.

Partners Promote Preventive Healthcare Events for Children and Families

• On a phone bank with WTMJ4, UnitedHealthcare and Managed Health Services promoted preventive healthcare needs for children going back to school.
• In August, UnitedHealthcare and Managed Health Services made telephone calls to families in the Milwaukee area with Medicaid-eligible children in need of a blood lead test.
• UnitedHealthcare and the Milwaukee Health Department hosted an August health event at Pick 'n Save for families in Milwaukee.
• In celebration of National Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) week, a scooter was provided to each center in Milwaukee by UnitedHealthcare and Managed Health Services and was raffled to a child who came in for a HealthCheck exam. 

Learn more.

New CDC Recommendations for Blood Lead Screening of Medicaid-Eligible Children
CDC recently released recommendations for an updated targeted approach to blood lead screening of Medicaid-eligible children. However, federal Medicaid policy has not changed. Blood lead testing of all Medicaid-eligible children is still required by federal Medicaid law at ages 12 months and 24 months, and at ages 3-5 years if not previously tested. This is especially important in Wisconsin where Medicaid-enrolled children are at three times greater risk for lead poisoning than children who are not enrolled in Medicaid. 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.

Wisconsin Modifies Rule to Protect Children During Renovation
On October 19, Wisconsin Department of Health Services completed rule modification to administer a new program brought about by a federal rule that affects construction trades, rental property owners and property managers working in older housing, daycares, preschools and kindergartens. Wisconsin is the first state in the nation to complete this modification. 

Learn more.
Read EPA's press announcement.
Read EPA's RRP Rule.
Read revised Wisconsin rule.

CDC Healthy Homes Web Portal
The CDC Healthy Homes Web Portal provides basic information to learn about things we can do at home to be healthier and safer. One can search for tips by room, by topic, for a green home or for specific audiences. Learn more.

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.

"Be Proactive, not Reactive--Renovate Right!" to be Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Theme in Wisconsin
During the recognition week of October 25-31 and throughout the year, focus will be on reaching out to target audiences, such as parents, child care providers and school personnel to educate them about the new EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule to protect children while renovating old housing. The "Renovate Right" outreach toolkit is available for these efforts.  Learn more.

Two New Environmental Training Courses Available in Wisconsin

• Kenosha County Communities Partnership offered the first Essentials for Healthy Homes Practitioners course in September 2009 at the Kenosha County Center.
• Ada Duffey, president of Milwaukee Lead and Asbestos Information Center, Inc., received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to offer the Lead-Safe Renovator training.

Read about new courses.
View Seven Principles for Healthy Homes.

Internet Listservs Provide Up-to-the Moment Information
The Alliance of Healthy Homes sponsors two listservs related to lead poisoning prevention and healthy homes: Leadnet and Healthyhomesnet. Both listservs have been established to facilitate discussion of environmental health hazards in substandard housing and distressed communities. Learn more and join.

Legacy of Lead Report Receives Distinguished Government Document Award
The Wisconsin Library Association awarded The Legacy of Lead: Report on Childhood Lead Poisoning in Wisconsin 2008 honorable mention in the Wisconsin's Distinguished Government Document Award for 2008. Noted was the way the report delivers technical information and statistics in layperson terms and that it was designed to be serious, yet visually inviting.  Learn more.

FUNDING AND RESOURCES

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

HUD is offering opportunities for smaller communities to build capacity to seek HUD grants for lead hazard control and healthy homes. The grant application information is available. Applications must be submitted through http://cl.exct.net/?ju=fe2f1675756305797c1573&ls=fde81372716202757710787d&m=fef51678726100&l=fe6515747c6405747516&s=fdf415757d67007f711c7774&jb=ffcf14&t= by November 19 for lead hazard control capacity building and November 24 for healthy homes. Learn more.

Get on Board the Lead-Safe Express: Next Stop-The Lead-Safe Zone
More than 200 people attended a community event called Get on Board the Lead-Safe Express on October 10 in the City of Waukesha. This family friendly event, offered in both English and Spanish, featured fantastic prizes, games, a delicious free lunch and fun activities for children and adults to learn how to stop childhood lead poisoning in their community. Learn more.

"Connect the Dots" Video on YouTube for EPA Contest
EPA announced a video contest on lead poisoning prevention to be hosted on YouTube with the winners to be awarded in Washington, DC during Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Ramona Jensen, a tireless advocate for preventing lead poisoning, submitted a video for Wisconsin. Ramona works for HeadStart SDC in Milwaukee. View video clip.