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Why Should Environmental Health Specialists Attend the 2002 Lead-Safe Indiana Conference on November 6 & 7, 2002?
You wear so many hats that you have a hard time finding time to attend a conference - much less a conference on lead poisoning. There is never enough time.
But you know that disturbing lead-based paint can result in a child's poisoning. It is more common in urban areas but rural communities have it - it just often is not detected because the kids are not tested. While lead poisoning is less common than it the 1960s and 1970s, about 15,000 Hoosier children are lead poisoned each year. Since lead poisoning is entirely preventable, even one child is too many. 15,000 is overwhelming - especially since it undermines the potential of our future generations.
We think you will benefit from attending the 2002 Lead-Safe Indiana Conference on November 6 & 7, 2002 in Indy. It is a great opportunity for you to network with your peers. It is also a good chance to catch up on the many changes that are occurring as HEA-1171 takes effect and HUD and EPA begins enforcing its regulations. Thanks to our sponsors, we even have some scholarship funds available to cover your registration fees. Unfortunately, we do not have funds available for travel and lodging.
We would like to make the following suggestions as you consider the agenda:
Learn about the latest and greatest assessment and monitoring technologies from the venders on Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:45. The technologies will include blood and paint monitoring. Only exhibitors who have an Indiana sponsor will be presenting. If you have a favorite product, let us know so you can get the vendor on the agenda.
Talk with Ruth Ann Norton of the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning on Wednesday from 1:30 to 2:30 to see what a comprehensive lead poisoning prevention program would look like and how to get there. As an alternative, participate in a discussion about landlord liability and responsibilities or find out about outreach that works.
You have four good choices for breakout sessions on Wednesday from 2:40 to 3:40. Either join in the discussion of ways to get contractors to use lead-safe work practices; find out about Indiana's new requirements that prohibit contractors from using dangerous work practices and require them to clean up their messes in pre-1960 housing; discuss how the state should deal with concerns about mold; or learn about avoiding taboos when working with different cultures.
Wrap up Wednesday by choosing one of four sessions: find out the latest word on new lead-safe work practices and technologies; see how Section 8 programs have been able to succeed and still manage lead; or learn when - or if - Medicaid will provide reimbursement environmental investigation services when a child is lead poisoned; or discuss how to get paint retailers to stop giving out dangerous and illegal advice. The sessions begin at 3:50 and end at 4:50.
HEA-1171 now requires that you get addresses of lead poisoned children from the state and share it with local housing agencies. You may also want to hear the latest of asthma or find out what the leading doctors in Indiana think about lead poisoning. Three strong choices on Thursday from 9:00 to 10:30!
Find out how to get the latest information from the Internet on lead poisoning or express your opinions to IDEM to help it improve its licensing regulations to make it less costly to find someone to conduct a HUD clearance examination or to make it easier to become a licensed lead abatement contractor. Another alternative is to find out how to get agencies to work together. The sessions are Thursday from 10:45 to noon.
Nominate your favorite lead advocate in your organization who has done outstanding work in dealing with lead-based paint for a Lead-Safe Indiana Award. Hopefully your nominee will receive an award on Thursday afternoon.
Too many choices for each session. Maybe your health department needs to send more than one person.
If you need any more information, contact Tom Neltner at mccabe@ikecoalition.org.
Please join us. Click here to register. To apply for a scholarship.
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