Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP)

Promoting a healthy, lead-safe environment
where all children can achieve their full potential

• Do you have tips or complaints regarding sources of lead or lead poisoning? Submit a confidential report.
• Review the Central California Alliance for Health page for healthcare resources.
• Helpful info for housing resources can be found here.
• Common sources of lead
• Resources for Medical Providers
• Hazard Reduction Information
• Other Resources

Lead Poisoning/Envenenamiento Por Plomo

CLPPP provides services to the community to reduce lead exposure by increasing awareness around lead exposure hazards and increasing the number of children tested for lead poisoning. There is no safe level of lead and even small amounts in a child’s body can cause learning and behavior problems. High amounts of lead can damage the nervous system, kidneys, and other major organs. Children under six years old and unborn babies are at greatest risk of harmful effects from lead poisoning. Most children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick. The only way to know for sure is to have a blood test. Blood lead testing is a benefit of Medi-Cal, CHDP well-child exam, and most other health insurance. Ask your doctor if your child has not been tested. All children should be tested at 12 and 24 months old, via a capillary (finger prick blood draw) or venous (vein blood draw) test.

CLPPP proporciona ayuda familias en la comunidad para reducir la exposición de plomo concientizando con el conocimiento de los riesgos y ayuda medical para hacerse las pruebas de envenenamiento por plomo en la sangre. Ningún nivel de plomo en la sangre es saludable, y aun con niveles bajos de plomo en la sangre los niños pueden tener problemas de aprendizaje y comportamiento. Altos niveles de plomo pueden causar daño al sistema nervios, riñones, y otros órganos importantes. Niños bajo los seis años y en gestación corren mayor riesgo de sufrir los efectos nocivos del envenenamiento por plomo. La mayoría de los niños envenenados por plomo no presentan síntomas de enfermedad. La única manera de saber si su hijo/a tiene envenenamiento por plomo es hacerse la prueba de sangre. Las pruebas de plomo en la sangre son parte de sus beneficios si tienen el seguro de salud de Medi-cal, CHDP well-child exam, y la mayoría de otros seguros de salud. Pregúntele a su doctor si no le han hecho la prueba de sangre por plomo a su hijo/a. Todos los niños deben de hacerse la prueba a los 12 y 24 meses, prueba de sangre en el dedo o por la vena.

Lead Services/Servicios de Plomo

• Home visits to children with high blood lead levels. Environmental home inspections can identify possible sources of lead in the home and test items such as paint, soil, and food products. / Vista de casa a las familias con hijo/as con niveles altos de plomo en la sangre. Inspecciones medioambientales para identificar fuentes de plomo en la casa. Por ejemplo, en la pintura, tierra, o comidas.
• Case management, health education, lead level monitoring, and encourage medical follow-up as needed./ Administración de casos, educación para la salud, monitoreo del nivel de plomo y el seguimiento médico según sea necesario.
• Assist medical providers to manage lead poisoning in their patients./Asistir a profesionales médicos para el manejo de envenenamiento por plomo en sus pacientes.
• Follow-ups with homeowners as needed to ensure elimination of lead sources in the home and the surrounding area./Seguimientos con los propietarios para garantizar la eliminación de fuentes de plomo en el hogar y sus alrededores.
• Provide recommendations to families to reduce contact with lead./Dar recomendaciones a las familias para reducir su contacto con el plomo.

More Information for Parents and Caregivers

Young children are at the highest risk for lead poisoning because they play and crawl inside, outside, and often put hands and toys in their mouths. Buildings built before 1978, soil, dust, and certain household and foods items may be a source of lead to your child. If you are pregnant, your unborn baby could be harmed by lead.

10 Tips for a Lead-Safe Family: English   Spanish  

Common Sources of Lead Poisoning ()

To get more information to help prevent lead poisoning, click on the links below:

Information for Medical Providers ()

• California Department of Public Health Screening and Management Guidelines
• CDC: Guidelines for the Identification and Management of Lead Exposure in Pregnant and Lactating Women
• Matrix for Health Care Providers-California Management Guidelines on Childhood Lead Poisoning
• Anticipatory Guidance Forms: English   Spanish
• MMWR (CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) 2013 - Blood Lead Levels in Children 1-5 Years

Lead Hazard Reduction Information ()

• Lead Hazards in Your Home - Professional Resources
• Lead Compliance
• Lead Enforcement
• Santa Cruz County Environmental Health Services - Lead

Other Resources ()

• California Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Childhood Lead Poisoning Program
• Children's Products Recalls/Consumer Products Safety Commission
• Lead Safe Housing
• EPA Lead Homepage
• HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control
• California Poison Control System

Housing Resources

Short-term Lodging for Housing Repairs

• Rodeway Inn - prices may vary (Watsonville)
• Comfort Inn - prices may vary (Watsonville)
• Bay Front Inn - prices may vary (Westside Santa Cruz)
• Quality Inn & Suites - prices may vary (Ben Lomond)

Affordable Housing

• Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz
• Housing of Santa Cruz
• Families in Transition
• City of Watsonville Community Development
• City of Santa Cruz
• City of Capitola Community Development

Housing for Farmworkers

• MidPen Housing Via Del Mar: see website for more information
• MidPen Housing Jardines Del Valle: see website for more information
• MidPen Housing San Andreas: see website for more information

Seeking help with rental or landlord issues? Review the resources below.

• Tenant Rights
• Watsonville Law Center | Legal Services for the Central Coast
• Code Compliance (santacruzcountyca.gov)
• HUD: Report Housing Discrimination
• Income Discrimination
• Santa Cruz County Tenant’s Rights

For Property Owners

Home Repairs

• Habitat for Humanity - California: Habitat for Humanity builds and renovates approximately 400 homes each year thru programs available in most California counties. A listing of local affiliates is found here.
• Rebuilding Together: Rebuilding Together provides building and renovation services to twenty primarily urban counties in California. A listing of local affiliates is found here.
• Home Depot, thru the Home Depot Foundation, partners with Habitat for Humanity. See details here.
• Andersen Corporate Foundation donates windows and doors as well as performs free replacement services. See details here.
• Smaller general (e.g., Ace Hardware) and specialized residential hardware (e.g., stores that specialized in installation of windows, doors, garages, etc.) also offer support upon request and should be approached for potential partnerships to lower abatement costs.