Iowa

Increasing Lead Poisoning Prevention Awareness Through Virtual Learning in Iowa

A 2019 program needs assessment survey revealed a significant gap in knowledge among Iowa's healthcare providers and public health professionals: many lacked adequate awareness, training, and access to educational opportunities related to childhood lead poisoning prevention. Of the 190 survey participants, 93 responded, identifying critical deficiencies in understanding blood lead screening guidelines, intervention services, and collaborative resources — underscoring an urgent need for a coordinated, statewide approach to education.

In response, the Iowa Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP), in partnership with the University of Iowa Institute for Public Health Research and Policy and the Iowa Childhood Lead Advisory Workgroup, launched an annual Learning Collaborative on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention event in 2020. Offered as a free, full-day virtual event, the collaborative covers clinical and environmental case management, blood lead testing, surveillance data, and success stories. To further incentivize participation, continuing education units (CEUs) are awarded to nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals.

The impact of this initiative has been remarkable. Event attendance has grown by 193%, rising from 89 participants in 2020 to 261 in 2024, and CEUs were awarded to 180 participants in 2025 alone — 57% nurses, 17% physicians, and 26% other healthcare professionals. By providing a free, accessible, and credentialed learning experience, Iowa's CLPPP has successfully expanded awareness of childhood lead poisoning prevention and strengthened the network of professionals working to protect children from the lasting harms of lead exposure.