Missouri
The State of Missouri received $400,000 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 Missouri, contact the program below.
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
920 Wildwood Dr.
Jefferson City, MO 65109
Phone: 573-751-6102
Teaching Healthcare Providers New Techniques in Missouri
Statewide, blood lead levels are higher than the national average, yet blood lead level testing rates are low in high-risk areas. The Missouri Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (MO CLPPP) identified the primary barrier for blood lead testing to be gaps in healthcare providers’ knowledge of blood lead testing requirements for children under the age of six and a lack of access to educational materials about lead poisoning prevention.
MO CLPPP developed outreach materials aimed at providing information about blood lead testing requirements to healthcare providers, which were placed in healthcare clinics across the state. MO CLPPP mailed over 150 flash drives loaded with medical management guidelines, and recommendations about blood lead testing and follow-up, to pediatricians across the state. MO CLPPP also attended five conferences for healthcare professionals to promote lead poisoning prevention.
Additionally, MO CLPPP scheduled in-person training with healthcare providers across the state. Each training focused on lead poisoning prevention and increasing blood lead testing. Beginning in January 2018, MO CLPPP provided training to
- Fifty Local Public Health Agencies with over 300 healthcare providers and Women, Infant, and Children staff members in attendance.
- Twenty case managers from all four of the Medicaid Managed Care Plans within the state.
- A large pediatric office in Kansas City with 34 healthcare providers in attendance.
- Over 100 nurses working in local health departments, medical centers, United Health Plan, Pediatric Care Network, and Priority Care Pediatrics.
In Harrison County, blood lead testing rates increased by 200% in the six months after MO CLPPP provided healthcare provider training in that area. MO CLPPP will continue to offer healthcare provider training across the state, targeting areas with low testing rates.
Funding for this work was made possible in part by the Cooperative Agreement Number [NUE2EH001375] 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.