Kentucky
The State of Kentucky received $350,000 through cooperative agreement EH21-2102 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in FY 2022. The funds address childhood lead poisoning prevention and surveillance programmatic activities being conducted from September 30, 2022 to September 29, 2023.
The strategies focus on
- Ensuring blood lead testing and reporting
- Enhancing blood lead surveillance
- Improving linkages to recommended services
To learn more about these efforts in Kentucky, contact the program below.
Kentucky Department for Public Health
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
275 E. Main St. Ste B
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 564-2154
Printing and Disseminating Education Materials in Kentucky
Upon meeting with 120 local health departments in the state, Kentucky’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (KYCLPPP) became aware that nurses were often relying on outdated educational materials to support lead poisoning prevention outreach.
Each of Kentucky’s 120 health departments was contacted and offered free educational materials about lead poisoning prevention. During 2018, KYCLPPP disseminated 5,639 childhood lead poisoning prevention brochures to 37 interested local health departments to facilitate consistency in lead poisoning prevention outreach across the state. Local health departments could incorporate community-specific knowledge into these materials to find the best fit for lead education and create a sense of ownership for their outreach efforts.
Health departments shared educational materials that provided anticipatory guidance to parents. These were provided during lead screenings (59%), after identifying children with elevated blood lead levels (18%), at various outreach events (such as health fairs, community partner meetings, environmental health conferences, etc.) (13%), and during clinical visits (mostly Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children [WIC] clinic visits) (10%).
KYCLPPP increased lead poisoning prevention outreach at the community level, which is viewed as a more approachable, appropriate setting. Additionally, local health department nurses indicated that they could supply accurate education and guidance to high-risk families. For example, Lake Cumberland Health District staff members added education on childhood lead poisoning prevention to parenting classes they teach to soon-to-be-released incarcerated individuals with young children.
Funding for this work was made possible in part by NUE1EH001264 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.