1. Overview: A Community Approach to Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Ben Gramling
Director of Environmental Health
June 8, 2016

2. Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
Founded in 1969, Serving Milwaukee’s South Side
Federally Qualified Community Health Center
39,440 Clients; 84% Hispanic
80% Below FPL; 19% Uninsured
Primary Care (Medical & Behavioral) and Wraparound Supportive Services

3. Department of Environmental Health
… envisions a network of public, private and nonprofit sector organizations that are working to bring about improvements in the built and natural environments of Milwaukee’s south side. These improvements represent fundamental steps towards realizing and sustaining improvements in the health and well-being of clients served by SSCHC.

5. Childhood Lead Poisoning
Lead poisoning is the number one environmental
health concern for U.S. children
Children 6 years old and younger
Multiple risks in the home environment

6. Lead Poisoning in Wisconsin6 6 6

7. SSCHC EBLs 7

8. Lead Prevalence Rate Number of Children with EBL / Number of Tests
2014

9. SSCHC Funders/Partners
State of Wisconsin
Financial Support (General Funds)
Technical Assistance & Monitoring
Milwaukee Health Department
Financial Support (HUD Pass-through)
Nuisance Properties – Non-Voluntary Abatement
Case Management
Primary Prevention – Voluntary Abatement

10. SSCHC’s Approach
Provide Coordinated Intervention and Prevention Services
Bridge clinical & outreach activities
Link SSCHC & partner services
Maintain High Rates of Screening
Top performers among Wisconsin’s providers
Sustain Effective Outreach Services
1,200-1,400 Active Families served at any time

11. Core LOP Services Staff Capacity Staff Will:
1.0 FTE Program Coordinator
1.0 FTE Program Assistant
1.25 FTE Outreach Worker
0.75 FTE Research
Staff Will:
Coordinate screening of children & clinical care (7,500/6,095)
Conduct an admit home visit (190)
Conduct follow up home visits (425)
(every 3, 6 or 12 months depending on situation)
Refer properties to department’s housing specialist (59)
Discharge family as/when appropriate (191)

12. Home Visit Description
Record the demographic information of the family
Conduct an environmental survey
Provide parents with lead education and prevention
Conduct capillary screening
Set goals with the family

13. Housing Specialist Demonstrate Interim Controls
Hepa-Vac window cleaning
Duct tape
Interface with Landlord
Provide Technical Assistance & Linkage to Resources
Maintenance plan
Renovate Right class referral
Grant & loan programs
MHD Primary Prevention Program*

14. Door to Door Canvassing
Identify families/children that require testing and/or follow up services & schedule return visit
Target areas based on tract-level prevalence rates, housing conditions and population estimates

15. Backyard Garden Research
The Problem:
Backyard gardening is being actively encouraged in urban neighborhoods
Exposure risk from residential gardening is unclear
Risk of exposure is not understood by residential gardeners
Soil testing capacity is limited & problematic

16. Thank You! Ben Gramling Director of Environmental Health
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
Milwaukee, WI