TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any subsequent amendments, with the State of California Department of Public Health, to continue the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and accept grant funding in an amount not to exceed $1,154,494, for the period
July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On October 8, 2013, the City Council authorized a grant agreement with CLPP to accept funding in the amount of $764,376 for the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention (CLPP) Program for the period of July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2018. On July 22, 2014, the City Council authorized a first amendment to the existing grant agreement to shorten the term from June 30, 2018 to June 30, 2017, and to accept additional funding of $94,781, for a total grant amount of $859,157. A second amendment to the agreement was authorized by the City Council on August 16, 2016 to increase funding to a maximum amount of $958,337 for the period of July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2017. The CDPH has now awarded the Health and Human Services Department a new grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $1,154,494, to continue the provision of CLPP Program services for the period of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020.
The primary goal of the CLPP Program is to prevent lead poisoning in children under the age of six years through outreach and education to the community including parents, teachers, caregivers, physicians, neighbors, and friends. The secondary goal is to ensure that children with lead poisoning are followed by a physician and live in a lead-safe environment, through case management by a Public Health Nurse and inspections by a Registered Environmental Health Specialist.
Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around homes, and was banned for use in paint in 1978 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). An elevated blood lead level in a child is defined as five or more micrograms of lead in a deciliter of blood. Lead poisoning is primarily a problem for children under the age of six, both because they tend to be more “auto-oral exploratory” (i.e., they put more things in their mouths) than older children and adults, and because children exhibit more pronounced health symptoms than do adults at the same blood lead level. In addition, lead poisoning is particularly troubling in young children because the neurobehavioral problems caused by low levels of lead exposure at this age can be permanent; they do not necessarily recede when the exposure to lead ends; therefore, the prevention aspect of the program is especially important.
Screening for lead poisoning has become much more comprehensive and the average blood lead level in both adults and children has dropped significantly. To date, the CLPP Program has provided case management to 714 children with elevated blood lead levels; attended more than 259 outreach events including health fairs and community events with 15,633 people reached; and delivered more than 700 presentations to healthcare and childcare providers and community groups with more than 6,600 individuals reached. The number of childhood lead poisonings among children continues to decline for Long Beach. However, continued education and case management is critical as 85 percent of the housing stock in Long Beach was built before 1978.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on March 1, 2017 and by Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on March 6, 2017.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this item is requested on March 21, 2017, to continue to provide services and meet required objectives.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City is eligible to receive reimbursement up to $1,154,494 for the grant period of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020. Sufficient appropriation is budgeted in the Health Fund (SR 130) in the Health and Human Services Department (HE) for the first year of the grant. Subsequent year appropriation will be requested through the annual budget process. No match or in-kind service mandate is required, and there is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER