Montgomery County Health Department: Raising Lead Awareness
Partner
Who is our collaborator?
The Montgomery County Health Department, located in Crawfordsville, IN, is a local public health agency that protects and improves community health through disease prevention, environmental sanitation, health education, and clinical services. Its mission is to improve individual and community health in Montgomery County through prevention, education, and partner collaboration.
Opportunity
What needs to be addressed?
The Montgomery County Health Department encourages parents to get their children tested for lead poisoning. Lead is a naturally occurring metal that, when children are exposed through their environment, can cause developmental delays, difficulty learning, and behavioral issues that can be permanent and disabling. Testing children and identifying areas of concern, such as chipping or peeling paint in homes or buildings built before 1978, water from lead pipes, contaminated soil, or imported items, can provide a plan of action to prevent further exposure.
Connection
How did Purdue get involved?
The Montgomery County Health Department and the Purdue University Center for Rural and Migrant Health have collaborated to encourage parents to get their children tested for lead poisoning. Purdue’s Center for Community Health Empowerment and Learning has provided funding for a team of faculty, students, and staff to conduct research on best practices for communicating health calls to action with the public. Surveys have been conducted, and images have been designed by students. Billboards are installed throughout Montgomery County, and social media posts will help spread the message. Follow-up surveys will measure the success of the messaging.
Want to engage with Purdue’s resources?