In 2020–2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is celebrating 30 years of funding and investment in Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention. Although there has been tremendous amount of progress in preventing and mitigating lead poisoning, any level of lead in the blood is still harmful. During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2021, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) released a factsheet highlighting key findings about lead poisoning prevention services offered by local health departments based on NACCHO’s National Profile of Local Health Departments. NACCHO conducts the census-style Profile study every three years to develop a comprehensive description of local health department infrastructure and practice.

To continue to reduce lead exposure, local health departments should continue providing lead poisoning services such as testing and recommended services. In addition, local health departments should emphasize community-focused approaches and create cross-sectoral partnerships to address lead poisoning.

View the factsheet by downloading from the NACCHO Bookstore or access it online.

More NACCHO resources and updates

• Look out for NACCHO’s announcement about a new Request for Applications for local health departments to evaluate Health in All Policies (HiAP) initiatives as part of their lead prevention implementation program and activities. The information will be posted here.
• Using a HiAP cross-sector approach to reduce childhood lead exposure can strengthen linkages of lead-exposed children to recommended services. Click here to learn more.
• HiAP can be a great tool to start and continue talking about health equity and environmental justice. This 2017 factsheet developed by NACCHO recommends health equity as a pillar of HiAP.
• Review NACCHO’s Stories from the Field on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention highlighting our work with the Boston Public Health Commission, the City of Cleveland Department of Public Health, and the City of Milwaukee Health Department to address lead poisoning prevention in their communities using a HiAP approach.
• Read our NACCHO Exchange article, “Cross-Sector Community Strategies for a “Health in All Policies” Approach to Lead Poisoning Prevention,” to learn how local health departments can embed health and equity considerations into policymaking across sectors.
• Searching for a Health in All Policies evaluation guidance that can help you conduct HiAP assessments? Click here.

Have issues downloading from the Bookstore? Email Anu Varma at [email protected] to get your copy.