About Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
In 2019, the Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy (IIPHRP), at the University of Iowa, College of Public Health was contracted by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) to develop, conduct, and analyze a needs assessment to determine how Iowa HHS can better meet the needs of the multiple stakeholders in the Iowa Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program including families, communities, medical providers and contractors. Since the needs assessment, this partnership has continued to grow by implementing recommendations and further trying to understand the needs of stakeholders working in childhood lead poisoning prevention.
Meet the IIPHRP Lead Team
Vickie Miene, MS, MA, LMHC
Vickie Miene, MS, MA, LMHC is the Interim Director of the Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy and an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy, at the University of Iowa, College of Public Health. The Institute brings together public health practitioners, researchers, community leaders and policy makers to expand the impact of public health research and improve the health of populations. Ms. Miene has over 25 years of experience building and evaluating effective community based health care delivery models. Vickie lead a multimillion dollar, multi-year federally funded System of Care in 10 counties of NE Iowa, which gained national recognition as the first SOC that effectively combined social support and medical systems through an integrated team-based model of care. Ms. Miene has lead statewide training and technical assistance initiatives focused on integrated health, large scale quality improvement initiatives, and peer support services for the chronically mentally ill. Vickie currently co-leads a RWJF supported INVEST Health initiative to improve health among low income populations through creating partnerships between health and housing sectors. She has conducted various qualitative studies, most recently an assessment of Iowa public health data needs. Contact Vickie
Alexa Andrews, MPH
Alexa Andrews, MPH is the Program Coordinator for the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program project at the Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy at the University of Iowa, College of Public Health in Iowa City, IA. She recently graduated with her MPH with a concentration in Occupational and Environmental Health from the University of Iowa, College of Public Health. During her time as a student at the University of Iowa, she worked on multiple healthy homes initiatives. Mrs. Andrews worked with the IIPHRP to plan and deliver a healthy homes symposium in conjunction with the City of Iowa City that pulled together a multitude of stakeholders to better the health of this city through housing and healthcare partnerships. After her work on INVEST Health, she began working on the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program project as a Graduate Research Assistant. Since graduation she has transitioned into the Program Coordinator of the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program project at the IIPHRP. Contact Alexa
Iowa Childhood Lead Advisory Workgroup (CLAW)
The Iowa Department of Public Health, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and the Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy have collaborated to form a statewide workgroup to facilitate improved outreach, education, and program changes to prevent childhood lead poisoning in Iowa. The Childhood Lead Advisory Workgroup (CLAW) members include local housing officials, medical professionals, public health officials, elected officials as well as other child health and housing services professionals. 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 subgroups 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 subgroups aim is to Increase blood lead testing of children under 6 years in age through improved testing guidelines, policy, outreach and education.
CLAW Contributions
If you would like to learn more or join the CLAW, please provide your information below and we will be in contact with you!