As a result of its success in implementing its Children’s Health Insurance Program, Indiana got access to more than $100 million in federal funds that were not spent by other states. Nancy Cobb, director of Indiana’s CHIP at Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration, was keenly aware of the personal and societal impacts of lead poisoning. She realized that providing lead poisoned children medical care courtesy of CHIP was too little too late. The damage already was done. Primary prevention was crucial.

After months of discussion and deliberations, FSSA has requested the federal government’s approval to spend $51 million of redistributed CHIP funds for a lead poisoning prevention program. As part of the leadership team, IKE’s Tom Neltner provides technical support and outreach. If approved, the “Windows of Opportunity” program will:

• Replace lead-based paint windows in about 8,000 low-income homes.
• Test 12,000 children in these homes for lead poisoning and manage children who found to be lead poisoned.

Indiana will need to raise $20 million in matching funds. With limited state resources, the focus is on local resources and foundations. Marion County Health and Hospital already has promised $5 million.

The linchpin to the project will be the Indiana’s Weatherization Program. Twenty-four community action agencies covering the entire state weatherize thousands of low-income homes every year. They insulate. They replace furnaces. They caulk. They simply get it done and get it done right. Under the leadership of Maria Larson and Joan Cochran at FSSA, these 24 agencies are gearing up coordinate the window replacement.

There is a hook, though. The federal government requires that funds be spent before Sept. 30, 2002. We are hopeful that the restriction will be relaxed because of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid’s (CMM) delays in approving the project and because preventing lead poisoning is a national priority.

For information on IKE's efforts regarding lead poisoning prevention.

For information on the Lead-Safe Indiana Task Force.