Childhood Lead Advisory Workgroup (CLAW)
Advancing childhood lead poisoning prevention through collective impactÂ
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and the Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy collaborated to form the Childhood Lead Advisory Workgroup (CLAW), a statewide workgroup to facilitate improved outreach, education, and program changes to prevent childhood lead poisoning in Iowa.
CLAW members include those working in the following sectors: housing, health care, public health, child health, and elected officials. The group, formed in 2019, develops comprehensive strategies to prevent childhood lead poisoning through statewide policy and program changes. Two subgroups have been added to address specific issues. The Housing Policy subgroup’s aim is to prevent childhood lead poisoning in Iowa through increased awareness about lead-based paint and housing-related issues. The Blood Lead Testing & Training subgroup’s aim is to increase blood lead testing of children under 6 years of age through improved testing guidelines, policy, outreach and education.