Managing Lead Poisoned Children

Plaza D

Thousands of children are lead poisoned in Indiana each year.  Only a fraction of these children are identified as lead poisoned under current efforts.  Those efforts will improve in the coming years.  While we want to prevent more poisonings, we need to deal with the reality that children are getting lead poisoned.  We need to know how to help them and their families respond to the poisoning.  The neurological impact of lead poisoning can be devastating and life altering.  

This session will build on Ms. Sauser’s lunchtime presentation on the real impacts of lead poisoning on a family.  Participants will learn:

•       What happens when lead invades a child's brain;

•       How public school programs are engaged in the daily struggle to over come disabilities incurred from brain damage;

•       Of the efforts in Allen County, Indiana to address the needs of children in their community who have been found to have abnormal blood lead levels.

 Moderator:  Judy Gilliland – Indiana State Dept. of Health.  Ms. Gilliland is a licensed risk assessor.  She has a Masters in Public Administration.  At ISDH, she serves provides case management for lead poisoned children and conducts environmental assessments. 

Speakers:         Patricia Kiergan - Indianapolis Public Schools.  Ms. Kiergan holds a BS in Nursing from The Catholic University of America and an MS in Health Education from Indiana University.  She is currently the Department Head for Nursing and Health Services for the Indianapolis Public School System after having provided nursing services there since 1986.  She was previously a staff nurse for 5 years and a nursing supervisor for 5 years at St. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis.  In addition, she served in the US Army Reserve from 1981 - 1989; first as Supervisor of Outpatient Services, Hawley Army Hospital, Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis and then as Commander of Ambulance Team and Blood Draw Unit, 337th General Hospital. Ms. Kiergan will discuss public school approaches to managing educational opportunities for children who have suffered disabilities such as may result from lead poisoning.

Barbara C. Gelder.  Ms. Gelder received her PhD from Ball State University in Clinical Neuropsychology, her MS in Clinical Psychology/School Psychology from St. Francis College, and her BA from St. Francis College.  She is currently a psychotherapist working with adults, children, and families.  Her activities include assessment, evaluation, treatment, and testing of children with mild to severe or suspected neurological, neuropsychological and/or genetic impairment.  Previous to her current work, she had been a consultant, a clinician, and an instructor.  She has co-authored several publications as well as taught numerous related courses.  Dr. Gelder will describe changes in the brain that may occur as a result of damage caused by abnormal lead levels in the body and discuss current follow-up strategies in Allen Co.