Louisiana
The State of Louisiana 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 Louisiana, contact the program below.
Louisiana Department of Health
Louisiana Healthy Homes and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
1450 Poydras Street, Suite 1652
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: 504-568-825425-342-9500
Testing Women, Infants, and Children for Lead Exposure in Louisiana
Louisiana children that receive services provided by Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics are more likely to have a higher risk for lead poisoning. The Louisiana Healthy Homes and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (LHHCLPPP) is aware that some children attending WIC clinics do not receive routine health prevention services and are, therefore, not likely to receive blood lead testing at a medical clinic. Blood lead testing at WIC clinics is an efficient way to screen these children at ages 12 and 24 months and increase blood lead testing rates in Louisiana.
LHHCLPPP staff members conducted a blood lead testing pilot project in 2018 at WIC clinics in Region 1 of the state. Region 1 consists of four Louisiana parishes: Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard. LHHCLPPP partnered with 12 WIC clinics in Region 1 to increase testing and raise awareness. Additionally, the program trained all WIC staff members in Region 1 on lead poisoning prevention at WIC regional meetings and one-on-one with WIC clinic staff members while they provided services to children.
LHHCLPPP was able to support a Regional Outreach Specialist for Regions 1, 6, and 8 who is responsible for training WIC staff members, providing training at provider offices, and supporting other promotional activities. Regions 6 and 8 include five Louisiana parishes with an elevated risk of lead poisoning.
Through the partnership with WIC, LHHCLPPP has reached an additional 2,403 children, and 82% were tested for lead exposure for the first time.
Funding for this work was made possible in part by NUE1EH001265 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.