Lead poisoning in Bridgeport, CT is a persistent problem that affects 17 percent of children under age six (DPH, 1998). This is four times the prevalence of lead poisoning in the State of CT (DPH,1998) and the US (GAO,1999). Without mandatory screening, identifying and following children with this health problem is a challenge. State Health Department data indicate only 30% of children under the age of six were screened for lead poisoning in Bridgeport in 1998. With 14,000+ children at risk and 90 percent of the houses built before 1960, a community-wide effort is necessary to assure awareness of the problem, that children are screened and that sources of lead are uncovered. A School of Nursing's Health Promotion Center and a hospital's Lead Safe House developed a collaborative to strategically address lead poisoning through community outreach. Two student nurses are employed through both organizations to assist staff. Each organization has active caseloads of approximately 35 children with elevated blood lead levels. The protocol for following children involves home visiting, obtaining dust wipes, conducting developmental assessments, education of parents about lead and nutrition, assistance with securing safe, affordable housing and providing advocacy as needed. The collaborative effort evolved from a temporary staffing need at the Lead Safe House and previous cooperation on several cases. Through coordination it is expected that awareness of the problem and the need for screening will increase,and follow-up will be more comprehensive and result in decreased duplication of services.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: 1)recognize three areas of lead case management for hospital clinic and community projects to share; 2)to name three opportunities for improving lead case follow-up through agency collaboration 3)to name three ways to measure success of a collaborative community based effort to address lead poisoning
Keywords: Lead, Collaboration
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Fairfield University School of Nursing-Health Promotion Center
Bridgeport Hospital and Bridgeport Hospital Foundation-Lead Safe House
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.