After looking at trend data, Rob sees that rates have not decreased in Springfield County as quickly as the rest of the State.

He also reviews national data in Healthy People 2020 and finds that the countys rates are higher than the national baseline and target measures.

Rob contacts his States Healthy People Coordinator to learn more about statewide efforts to meet the environmental health objectives in Healthy People 2020.

Rob then does a brief environmental scan to see what the best practices are for lead poisoning prevention and what actions similar communities have taken to address the problem.

The first half of the day is dedicated to going through data.

They review data sources identified in the Environmental Health Healthy People 2020 section.

There they find objective 8: Eliminate elevated blood lead levels in children.

After reviewing the data for their State, they find that their county has the highest rates of childhood lead poisoning in the State; out of all children under age 6 who are tested, 5.2 percent have elevated blood lead levels.

The national average is 4.4 percent, while the State average is 2.1 percent, with some counties reporting no cases of elevated blood lead levels.

They think that the lead prevention plan they develop may be able to also address some environmental causes and triggers of asthma.

Best practices in lead poisoning prevention suggest that the county health department should focus on high-rate areas, particularly public housing units and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods with houses built before 1978 (the year lead was removed from paint).

They also agree to include evidence-based interventions that will reduce rates of asthma.

Rob works with other members of the county health department and Franklin city government to develop a proposal for the U.S.

The CBO signs a letter of support agreeing to collaborate on the project if funding is awarded.

They are able to link their proposal directly to national and State Healthy People 2020 objectives in both Respiratory Diseases and Environmental Health topic areas.

Lead paint is removed, and air filters are installed throughout the public housing units over a 2-year period.

Elevated blood lead levels reported to the county health department are 0.75 percent lower after the project than before the improvements were made.

Residents self-report feeling sick less often and having fewer asthma attacks.

As a result of the project, residents also report high levels of satisfaction with the condition of their housing unit and the management of the public housing complex overall.

He expects that it may be difficult to continue funding the program through public grants, so he also contacts local and national businesses and private foundations that may be able to provide funding.

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