Sunday, February 5, 2023
2/5/2023
Background /Problem: Connecticut?s housing stock is considerably older than the national average, with 70% built prior to 1980 and 43% built prior to 1960 (2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates U.S. Census). This has significantly contributed to the increased risk of lead-exposure and associated adverse health effects in children under six years old. Further compounding the problem, is the fact that an even larger proportion of the older housing stock exists in densely populated cities where children are more likely to live in poverty and more likely to be Black or Hispanic, widening the health disparity gap. Over the past 20 years, Connecticut has seen a steady decline of elevated blood lead levels (?5 mcg/dL) in children under six years old. This steady decline has been, in large part, due to the consistent support received by the CDC as well as the Connecticut Department of Public Health?s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program?s (CLPPP) organizational capacity and sustained engagement with federal, state, and local partners.Purpose: The CLPPP is intent on eliminating childhood lead poisoning by: 1) ensuring blood lead testing and reporting, 2) enhancing blood lead surveillance, 3) improving linkages to ensure lead-exposed children receive recommended services, and 4) developing targeted population-based interventions. The purpose of this proposal is to seek grant funding to adequately support and sustain these goals.Strategies and Outcomes: Through CDC funding we expect to ensure blood lead testing and reporting by increasing collaboration with community members and stakeholders, address outdated legislation, and increase provider compliance screening and reporting laws. The CLPPP will also enhance blood lead surveillance by improving completeness of data collection, increasing efficiency of data processing, employing data matching methods to better understand screening rates in Medicaid and refugee populations, and by publ ishing surveillance reports making data publicly available for use by local health departments (LHDs). We will improve linkages of lead-exposed children to recommended services by creating legislation that requires LHDs to utilize the surveillance system and by ensuring LHDs conduct timely environmental investigations while providing technical assistance. The CLPPP will also collaborate with the Office of Early Childhood?s Birth to Three program to provide appropriate resources to lead poisoned children and we will continue to partner with Regional Lead Treatment Centers to provide peer to peer education and resources for case management. Finally, the CLPPP will strengthen targeted population-based interventions and address health disparities by utilizing Geographic Information Systems to map and enhance knowledge of locations with high prevalence and incidence of lead poisoning. This information will further be used to inform media campaigns and community outreach focused on high risk Black and Hispanic populations to reduce known disparities.Significance: By funding this activity, the CDC will continue to support the overall decline of childhood lead poisoning in Connecticut, while reducing racial and ethnic health disparities, and improving health equity for other notoriously underserved populations. These accomplishments will have far reaching positive effects on children?s health during early development and will improve their chances for later success.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
