CLPPP September Bulletin

Washington State Department of Health sent this bulletin at 09/19/2023 04:35 PM PDT

September 2023

Welcome to the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) newsletter. Here you will find updates and resources to support your work related to child lead exposure issues across Washington state, or in your work with communities affected by lead. This newsletter will be published every other month. Please subscribe to be notified of new releases.

The Washington State Department of Health's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program consists of three teams:

Child Lead Prevention and Response: The CLPR Team has a focus on children’s blood lead screening, testing, case management of elevated blood lead levels, and lead risk education and awareness.

Epidemiology, Data, Surveillance, and Systems: The EDSS Team manages statewide blood lead surveillance and data analysis, as well as the Washington Disease Reporting System (WDRS).

Childhood Environmental Lead Exposure Prevention: The Team works to identify and eliminate environmental sources of lead exposure before children are impacted. Currently, the focus is on testing schools and child cares drinking water for lead.

Contact the CLPPP Partnership Coordinator for more information.

Quick Fact: Children with Medicaid insurance are required to have a blood lead test at the age of 12 and 24 months, or before the age of 72 months if none has been done prior. This may be referred to in some places as a screening. A screening is a verbal risk assessment, while the testing required by Medicaid is a blood lead test. It is listed on the EPSDT as a part of the well child visit.

MEDICAID

Resources

The WA Department of Health (DOH) provides lead publications that are available for your use. Topics include: Lead Test Card – Does Your Child Need a Lead Test, Lead in Home Remedies, the Family Quick Guide, plus many more. For a full list of free publications available in many languages, click here.
To order print copies of the Lead Test Card or for questions about any of our publications, click here.

The EPA provides a template for creating a lead action plan for your community, from initial checklist to implementation. This can be a useful tool in identifying steps you can take specific to your community and setting goals for reduction of lead exposure. Click here to see a video with instructions for the Local Lead Action Plan template. Please contact the local regional EPA offices with any questions.

CLPPP has posted on our website “The Importance of Childhood Blood Lead Testing” video: This video provides a brief overview of why it is important to protect young children from lead exposure and the importance of blood lead testing.

Program Spotlight

Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act in Full Swing for Child Care and Early Learning Sites

The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) grant program is growing! A big thank you to all our community partners that are helping promote the program. The WIIN program provides free water testing for lead and copper in drinking water at child care and early learning centers across the state. Since March of 2023, the program has sent out over 280 water testing kits. The kits contain all needed supplies for child care providers to collect their own water samples and send them back to the public health lab for testing. If high lead levels are found, the program can now cover funding for remediation efforts. The WIIN program will be sending out a promotional postcard in October during National Lead Positioning Prevention Week to let child care providers know they can get their water tested for free. We are excited to be able to provide this service to help keep our kids safe from lead exposure. Want more information or have questions? Contact Ashley, WIIN Program Coordinator, at ashley.davies@doh.wa.gov or 564-669-1098.

Updates and Events

The Washington State Public Health Association is holding the 2023 Annual Conference on October 10th through12th at the Wenatchee Convention Center. The theme for 2023 is “A Time for Reflection, Healing, and Hope for the Future.” Click here for registration information.

The 2023 Lead-Based Paint Technical Workshop from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be held on November 1st and 2nd. Stakeholders are invited to attend the virtual workshop and share their perspectives on lead-based paint and issues related to lead in existing paint in residential homes. Information obtained will assist the EPA with reevaluating the definition of lead-based paint.

The EPA is offering Community Awareness Sessions that are open to communities and anyone interested in learning about the impacts of lead and steps they can take to reduce risks. Curriculum is offered in English and Spanish. Click here for a list of sessions available across the country, and virtually. In addition, there are train-the-trainer events available to those who would like to educate the community they work with. Click here for more information on setting up a train-the-trainer event.

Current Events

RECALL: Please share with your networks. The Cupkin children's cup was recently recalled for lead levels; sold on Amazon.

One way that lead remains in our environment is from the historical use of lead water service lines. Read here to learn more about the challenge in some cities of removing lead from water utility lines.