Healthy Homes, Environmental Consumer Management & Senior Care Department

Children identified with an elevated blood lead level — defined as 5Ug/dl (microliters) or above — receive case management services. Case management includes regular contact with a case manager, to assist with identifying risk behaviors and potential exposure sources. The case manager acts as a liaison between the family and medical personnel as well as assisting with connecting the family to community resources.

In 1978, lead was banned as a residential paint additive. Prior to 1978, lead was added to paint to speed up drying, increase durability, maintain a fresh appearance and resist moisture that causes corrosion. A lead inspection is designed to determine which surfaces in a home contain lead. A risk assessment identifies which leaded surfaces are considered a hazard and should be immediately addressed. A state licensed lead inspector and risk assessor will inspect a home and provide a detailed report of the findings with recommendations to safely address any hazards.

With state backing — and in partnership with the CPSC — the Consumer Management Specialist conducts recall checks at local retailers. If a retailer is selling recalled items, the Consumer Management Specialist will order the retail to stop selling the recalled product, and report the retailer to the appropriate authorities. The Consumer Management Specialist provides education to childcare operators on issues of child safety, and also provides onsite testing of children’s toys and other consumer products for unacceptable lead content.

SCM is a comprehensive program that focuses on all aspects of senior health, including impediments and barriers to health and wellbeing. Through a network of partners, case management services, and low-cost interventions and home modifications, SCM will enable seniors to live in their homes longer and enjoy a higher quality of life. Adults 65 and older that are at risk for falls or have respiratory concerns, and are referred by a healthcare provider or social service agency, may be enrolled in the SCM program. SCM will provide practical assistance in case management and low-cost home modifications to facilitate aging in place.

Bedbugs are small, oval, brownish insects that live on the blood of animals or humans. Adult bedbugs have flat bodies about the size of an apple seed. After feeding, however, their bodies swell and are a reddish color. We provide technical assistance with identifying and eliminating bedbugs. While we do not provide removal services, we can assist with identifying how an infestation occurs, and educate and suggest ways to stop re-infestations.

Like other toxic chemicals, pesticides can poison people in different ways: through the skin and eyes, through the mouth, or through the air. Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of pesticide exposure. According to the EPA, children are at a greater risk for some pesticides for several reasons. Children’s internal organs are still developing and maturing, and their enzymatic, metabolic, and immune systems may provide less natural protection than those of an adult. There are “critical periods” in human development when exposure to a toxin can permanently alter the way an individual’s biological system operates. Children’s behaviors, such as playing on the floor or on the lawn where pesticides are commonly applied, or putting objects in their mouths, increase their chances of exposure to pesticides.

We conduct presentations on department activities in English and Spanish. Twice a month, we sponsor A Tu Salud on Telemundo Indy and produce a monthly newsletter. Additionally, we reach out to the community through health fairs and through conference speaking opportunities.