Lead Poisoning in Small Towns

Suites 4 & 5

While much of the focus of lead poisoning prevention has been on large cities, small towns have lead poisoned children as well.  ISDH has identified 667 high-risk neighborhoods in 46 cities and towns and 35 counties in Indiana.  In these high-risk neighborhoods, ISDH estimates that more than 20% of the young children may be lead poisoned.  In addition, ISDH requires that local health officers provide case management and conduct environmental assessments for children who are lead poisoned.  So how do smaller towns find the resources, especially the people, the money and the time to help these children?

This session will help participants figure out how to get it done.  Participants will learn about the lead poisoning problem in small towns and the requirements that must be followed to respond to it.  They will also get a better sense of the obstacles they will encounter and how to overcome these obstacles. 

Moderator:       Ron Fisher – Indiana Department of Environmental Management:  Mr. Fischer is a volunteer risk assessor for IDEM.  He lives in Frankfort in Central Indiana where he has done all his lead risk assessment work.  He is also a father of two lead poisoned children who has advocated for stronger lead poisoning prevention efforts in his community.  He has helped children get lead screenings for those children in high-risk homes, interviewed for the local newspaper and discussed with the mayor of Frankfort about the serious lead problems in Frankfort.

Speakers:         Chris Ulsas – Indiana State Dept. of Health:  Mr. Ulsas is an environmental scientist with ISDH.  He generated the maps of high-risk neighborhoods that IKE posted on its website at www.ikecoalition.org.  He will present the maps and explain their potential uses by small towns.

Connie Rudd – Porter County Health Department:  Ms. Rudd is a public health nursing supervisor in this Northern Indiana county.  She is also a risk assessor.  At the health department, she wears many hats.  Lead poisoning prevention is just one.  She will focus on her struggles and successes in preventing lead poisoning in her county. 

Lynnette Brown – Wayne County Health Department:  Ms. Brown is an environmental health specialist and a risk assessor based in Richmond.  She has been an advocate for lead poisoning prevention in her county but like many struggles with competing priorities.  She will focus on her struggles and successes in crafting a growing program in her county.

Bobby Lamb – Hoosier Uplands:  Mr. Lamb is the housing director for Hoosier Uplands managing rehab projects, weatherization and new construction.  He is a licensed lead-based paint supervisor.  Hoosier Uplands serves several rural counties in Southern Indiana.  He will explain how he is using lead-safe work practices in weatherization – and hopefully window replacement – work.