Lead Poisoning Prevention

Image of children huddled together and smiling

Overview

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4 million homes with young children in the U.S. contain deteriorated lead-based paint and elevated levels of lead-contaminated house dust. Although public health policies at the state and national levels have dramatically reduced lead exposure, cities and municipalities across the U.S. still struggle with hundreds, sometimes thousands of cases of childhood lead poisoning. Lead poisoning has serious health impacts on children, including changes in brain development, poor academic achievement, and a range of behavioral issues, that perpetuates a cycle of poor health outcomes in already vulnerable communities.

In 2020, the Public Health Foundation (PHF) completed a comprehensive review of the Milwaukee Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP), which included a review of case files, policies, procedures, protocols, and the mapping and analysis of processes and workflows. PHF identified and reviewed governing statutes, regulations, ordinances, and municipal codes; standards and guidance from CDC, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and the Public Health Accreditation Board; evidence-based interventions from the literature; and standards from other jurisdictions. PHF presented an interim report to the Milwaukee Common Council while the review was in progress.

Milwaukee Common Council Steering and Rules Committee on 11/14/2019 – PHF Interim Presentation

PHF developed a final report that included a summary analysis, 17 recommendations for consideration, and a variety of resources and innovative ideas for the City to consider. The report was presented to the Milwaukee Common Council, a variety of committees, and state and national officials.

Milwaukee Common Council Steering and Rules Committee on 6/22/2020 – PHF Final Presentation

In 2022, PHF was invited to conduct a follow-up review of the CLPPP, which included an evaluation of how the recommendations have been implemented and how the program has improved over time.

Milwaukee Common Council Steering and Rules Committee on 2/14/2022 – PHF Follow-Up Presentation

Resources for a Successful Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

Milwaukee Common Council Steering and Rules Committee on 11/14/2019 – PHF Interim Presentation

Public Health Foundation Audit of the Milwaukee Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program – March 2020

Milwaukee Common Council Steering and Rules Committee on 6/22/2020 – PHF Final Presentation

Public Health Foundation Follow-Up of March 2020 Audit of the Milwaukee Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

Milwaukee Common Council Steering and Rules Committee on 2/14/2022 – PHF Follow-Up Presentation

Pew Charitable Trusts – 10 Policies to Prevent and Respond to Childhood Lead Exposure

Human Impact Partners – Achieving Equity in Lead Poisoning Prevention Policy Making

Human Impact Partners – 5 Ways to Achieve Equity in Lead Poisoning Prevention Policy Making

National Center for Healthy Housing – Code Comparison Tool

Ohio Department of Public Health – Ohio Lead Hazardous Properties

Cleveland City Council – Ordinance No. 747-2019, Chapter 365 – Rental Registration and Lead-Safe Certification

Altarum Cost-Benefit Analysis – Cost-Benefit Analyses of Policies to Prevent and Remediate Childhood Lead Exposure

For more information about PHF’s work or to discuss improving your jurisdiction’s lead poisoning prevention program, contact Nolan Gill at ngill@phf.org.