Childhood lead poisoning prevention and surveillance of blood lead levels in children including blood lead testing and reporting, surveillance, and linkages of lead exposed children to services. -…

Childhood lead poisoning prevention and surveillance of blood lead levels in children including blood lead testing and reporting, surveillance, and linkages of lead exposed children to services. - in responding to CDC-RFA-EH21-2102 nofo, ?childhood lead poisoning prevention and surveillance of blood lead levels in children?, the tennessee department of health requests $350,000.00 to fund strategies and activities that will 1) ensure blood lead testing and reporting 2)enhance blood lead surveillance; and 3)improve linkages of lead-exposed children to recommended services . By the end of the project period, the TN clppp will improve blood lead testing and reporting rates for children less than 6 years of age at risk for lead exposure, improve use of surveillance system data to capture missing data on child demographic and follow-up information, improve rates of children less than 6 years of age who meet tennessee state case definitions and are referred to recommended services, and decrease disparities in blood lead levels by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic statusamong the funds requested, $117,559.00 will support the salary and fringe benefits for a principal investigator and program director (1.0 FTE) and an epidemiologist i (1.0 FTE). The program director will serve multiple roles including the principal investigator and project director to administer this cooperative agreement, evaluation and performance monitoring will be overseen by the program director and in collaboration with the epidemiologist. A full time epidemiologist i will be responsible for the surveillance and data management tasks outlined in the funding notice. This position will assure the quality and integrity of TN clppp quarterly data submissions, conduct program evaluation activities, perform statistical data analyses, prepare documents and reports, disseminate findings to program staff and stakeholders, and develop new data processes, as indicated. An amount of $142,000.00 is requested to cover contractual costs including the increased hours available for 1) a health specialist in chattanooga hamilton county to outreach/education regarding blood lead testing and RE ferrals to recommended services including lead education station; 2) UT EXT will be partially supported by the CDC grant for maintenance of the leadtrk surveillance system. The personnel includes an environmental specialist that will provide stakeholders and primary care providers, training, development of an expert workgroup to develop a statewide screening plan, and a pilot project with a provider to identify barriers/challenges regarding blood lead testing and reporting of all required data variables; assist in the coordination of the advisory committee and expert workgroup; and to promote screening and follow-up with medical providers, early intervention staff, and families. The contracts provide the department of health with environmental expertise and local support that does not exist within the department of health, division of family health and wellness.