Efforts Are Currently Underway to Combine Lead Poisoning Prevention Efforts with a Holistic

ABSTRACT:

Childhood lead poisoning has been on the decline in the U.S. due to policies and programs aimed at eliminating lead poisoning. Healthy People 2010 set the goal of eliminating lead poisoning by 2010. However, there are still over 30,000 children in the U.S. with elevated blood lead levels every year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2010). In Los Angeles County in 2006, 138 children were identified as lead poisoned (CDC, 2006). Those who are most affected are usually minorities, recent immigrants, and those living in poorer neighborhoods with older housing. For this reason, lead poisoning prevention is still a priority issue for Healthy People 2020 and for the CDC.

Efforts are currently underway to combine lead poisoning prevention efforts with a holistic approach to keeping children safe from health hazards in the home. The program that is currently being developed is called “Healthy Homes, ” which addresses not only lead, but also mold, pests, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and sources of injury.

I worked with the Los Angeles County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) and one of their community partners, Kingdom Causes, to implement health education outreaches. I conducted workshops for parents and childcare providers about how to have a healthy home and prevent childhood lead poisoning. I conducted evaluation of these workshops, and I reported results at the Society for Public Health Education annual meeting. I also supported CLPPP staff with outreaches to contractors, Home Depot employees, and pregnant teens. I developed new outreach tools, such as print materials and a video. These health promotion tools will be used by CLPPP for future outreach efforts.

I led health education workshops mainly in Monterey Park and Alhambra. I also contributed to other trainings and outreaches throughout Los Angeles County. I worked from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Office at 5555 Ferguson Dr., Commerce, CA 90022. My internship lasted from June 6, 2010 to December 15, 2010. I worked about 20 hours per week in the summer and about 16 hours per week during Fall quarter.

By contributing to outreach efforts at CLPPP, I was able to develop and implement a curriculum that combines lead poisoning prevention with Healthy Homes. Educational workshops were held for childcare providers and parents. Evaluation was conducted to determine the effectiveness of these workshops. I produced other health promotion materials in order to promote lead poisoning prevention, to raise awareness about new lead laws, and to educate about how to have a healthy home. Overall, I had an enriching internship experience in which I was able to apply many of the theoretical concepts I learned in the classroom to the real world of public health.

Brittany Morey

Dr. Marjorie Kagawa-Singer

December 15, 2010