 Friday, January 26, 2024
Community-informed campaign seeks to increase awareness about lead poisoning and prevention
 To create more awareness around childhood lead poisoning, what it is, how to prevent it, and resources available to help families, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) has partnered with IDEAS xLAB to create public health messaging that features the faces and voices of the Louisville community. The campaign, which features billboards and digital ads, was created by engaging with community residents and partners.
At WorldFest and The Big Table, we asked attendees to respond to the prompts: “What makes a healthy home?” or “What makes a healthy community?” Participants provided over 150 responses across the two city-wide events. Mighty Shades of Ebony – a group of talented young Louisville musicians mentored by Christopher Rasheed – took these community responses and blended them with educational information about childhood lead poisoning prevention to create the song and music video “Opened Eyes”. Adapted lyrics were taken from the song and paired with images of local families to place billboards in Louisville neighborhoods, driving viewers to the resources at StopLeadLou.com. Americana Community Center identified multiple families from the community to participate in a photoshoot for the billboards. Previous campaigns from this partnership resulted in an 80% increase in children being tested for lead poisoning, as well as a spike in website traffic to StopLeadLou.com, where people can access public health resources.
Lead can enter the body when someone inhales or ingests lead particles found in paint, dust, or soil. Before 1978, lead-based paint was frequently used in homes. Many homes in Jefferson County, built before 1978, still have old lead paint in and around them. From 2005 to 2021, nearly 10,000 children in Louisville tested positive for elevated blood-lead levels. Data shows children living in the northwest area of the city are almost 10 times at greater risk for developing lead poisoning than those living in other areas. Many homes in that area were built before 1978.
There is no safe level of lead in a person’s blood. There is also no cure for lead poisoning. When lead is breathed in or swallowed, it can result in brain and nervous system damage, behavior and learning problems, hearing and speech problems, and slow growth and development. Pregnant people need to know the risk of lead exposure because lead can pass to their baby during pregnancy and during breastfeeding.
Lead poisoning is 100% preventable. Louisville Metro Council took a big step in late 2022 to protect children and pregnant people from lead poisoning when it approved and enacted the Lead Hazard Program for Rental Housing Units ordinance. The ordinance goes into effect in December and requires all rental housing units built before 1978 to be evaluated for lead and all lead hazards mitigated before the home is rented. Throughout 2024, LMPHW will be sharing more information and details about the implementation of the ordinance with property owners, landlords, tenants and the community.
Families can find information on lead testing, prevention, and other resources at StopLeadLou.com or by calling 502-574-6644.
Jefferson County Attorney offering an amnesty period for people with an active bench warrant
 Clearing bench warrants and giving people the opportunity to close their cases will reduce incarceration and save lives. Bench warrants are typically issued after a person does not appear for a scheduled court appearance or does not pay fines, fees, or restitution.
Many people miss court dates because of barriers to transportation, childcare, time off work, and more. When a person has an active bench warrant, police are authorized to arrest them if they come into contact with the person. That means getting pulled over for speeding could lead to an arrest and incarceration.
On a personal level, this amnesty period will allow people with certain active bench warrants to reschedule their hearings and close their case. This will allow them to live without the threat of immediate arrest should they encounter law enforcement. On a broader scale, clearing these bench warrants will reduce incarceration rates and alleviate deadly overcrowding in jails.
--Submitted by ACLU Kentucky
Free University of Louisville clinic is open
to the public; no insurance necessary
 Click here to enlarge flyers
The GLOH Clinic, located in the Iroquois - Family Health Center, 4100 Taylor Blvd, is a free clinic run by the University of Louisville School of Medicine in collaboration with local physicians.
The clinic offers health services to all patients, without insurance or referrals. It is also ideal for free school and sport physicals and treatment of common sicknesses for adults and children. Families are also welcome to come into the clinic for other services.
Patients are welcomed to visit the clinic every Monday at 6 p.m. until March 18. No appointments are necessary. Spanish interpreters are available at the clinic. For more information, please call (502) 653-9543.
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