The Alliance, along with six community partners, recently was awarded a Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program Implementation award from the Medical College of Wisconsin for Making Milwaukee Smile. The award of $446,519 will be used over the next three years to implement and evaluate the coordination of oral health care for children at selected Milwaukee Public Schools.

Making Milwaukee Smile includes specific initiatives to increase the number of children enrolled in the Medicaid program, increase the number of children that participate in school-based prevention programs and coordinate restorative care for children with early and urgent dental needs.

Partners include Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Dental Center, Columbia St.Mary's Hospital, Marquette University School of Dentistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Health Services Inc., Milwaukee Public Schools and Southeast Dental Associates. For more information, contact Matt Crespin, oral health project manager, at (414) 292-4002.

On February 14, the Consumer Product Safety Commission released its annual report on all-terrain vehicle-related death and injury in 2006. Fatalities in 2006 were slightly lower than in 2005, but the decrease, which may be due in part to incomplete reporting, was deemed not to be statistically significant. Injuries increased slightly.

Lead-based paint for residential use was banned in the United States in 1978, but still exists in most older homes. The Environmental Protection Agency issued a new rule in March requiring persons who perform renovations or repairs for compensation to receive training and certification in lead-safe work practices and occupant protection, as well as verification of cleaning for all renovations that disturb paint.

The new rule will take effect in April 2010 and applies to all building contractors, painters, plumbers, electricians, and apartment owners and managers. Renovations and maintenance must be directed by a certified renovator ensuring workers employ lead-safe work practices.

Read the EPA media release. Consult the EPA Booklet, "Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools."

The new rule also has drawn criticism. The Alliance for Healthy Homes (AFHH) and the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), national organizations advocating for affordable and healthy housing alternatives, point out flaws in the rule would:

• Expose children, pregnant women, renovation workers and painters to dangerous levels of lead.
• Provide tenants and property owners with false assurances that lead dust has been removed safely.
• Make enforcement of the rule unlikely.

Read the AFHH media release. Read the NCHH media release. Read the Reuters' article, "EPA offers new lead paint rule, drawing criticism." Read the Daily Reporter article, "Lead paint law looms for industry" for a Wisconsin perspective.

Despite the criticism, all agree the rule has been long awaited and hailed as a positive step forward in eliminating childhood lead poisoning hazards in older homes.