LA County Department of Public Health

Program Description

The Los Angeles County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) was established in 1991, as a result of the California legislature mandating the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) to develop and enact a standard of care for identifying and managing children with elevated blood lead levels. CLPPP, funded by the CDHS, is structurally placed under two Programs within Department of Public Health. The team of public health nurses, health educators, and epidemiology staff is under Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Programs; and the team of registered environmental health specialists is under Environmental Health. The two teams work closely together to ensure nursing and environmental case management and follow-up for lead-burdened children; to promote screening; and to carry out primary prevention, targeted outreach and education, and surveillance activities.

Información en Español

Vision, Mission, Objectives, and Unit Responsibilities

Health Problems

Goal

To eliminate childhood lead poisoning by year 2010.

Lead Safe L. A. 2010 - Strategic Plan to End Childhood Lead Poisoning in Los Angeles County.

Services

Case Management - case definitions, closure criteria, management guidelines, nutrition
- California Childhood Lead Screening Regulations (for all CHDP Providers, Program Providers, Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans, and Head Start/State Preschool Division)
Environmental Health Investigation - Inspection guidelines, sources of exposures
Health Education - Education materials, order form, activity calendar
Surveillance Data - graphs, maps, data request
Health Care Provider Education and Training - Grand Rounds, Lead-in-Brief, Fingerstick Initiative

Projects

School Outreach and Art Contest

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) has, as part of its outreach program, a Lead Awareness Art Contest. At the beginning of the school year teachers are invited to teach a class in lead awareness, using CLPPP’s curriculum. After the class is conducted, students are encouraged to create a poster on their understanding of lead poisoning prevention, and submit it to the CLPPP Program.

One winner per grade is selected. Winners receive a cash prize, and a trophy. All participants get a certificate of participation. The artwork is also submitted to the State Branch of the CLPPP for selection in an annual calendar. This calendar is distributed throughout the State as an educational tool on lead poisoning prevention. The calendar has been in place since 1999.

MCAH Programs