An action plan is necessary to prevent childhood lead exposure head-on and address long-term safe housing for Marion County residents. Together, Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) and Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI) staff have organized a partnership, Lead-Free Indy, to address these efforts and conversations.

Our work, which has emerged as Lead-Free Indy, began when several staff participated in the year-long training through the National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health (NLAPH) in 2023. NLAPH works with local, state, and national leaders to address pressing public health issues. NLAPH trains four-person multi-sector teams from across the country to advance leadership skills and achieve health equity in their communities. Groups develop teamwork and communication skills while working on a priority issue. In Indianapolis, that issue is childhood lead poisoning. Thus, Indianapolis became part of the CDC’s Lead-Free Communities initiative.

How is Indianapolis Addressing Lead Poisoning?

• An Easy-to-Use Lead Registry
  Lead-Free Indy recognized that Marion County residents could not easily find out if their home or rental had a history of lead contamination, even though that information was freely available through the MCPHD. Working with Plow Digital, a software development agency, the team created the LeadADVISOR, an AI-driven resource that allows users easy access to past MCPHD Lead Inspection records as well as general information about lead. Even though the system is AI-driven, the content is carefully curated to ensure accurate and timely information for users. Visit the LeadADVISOR at Mission Unleaded. Already, the LeadADVISOR, is poised to be a game-changer in public health. This tool gives residents knowledge and resources to act on environmental lead hazards so that they can demand lead-safe housing.
• A Summit to Empower a Lead-Free Indy 

  MCPHD and IUI are organizing Our Legacy Starts Now: A Summit to Empower a Lead-Free Indy. The Summit takes place September 19, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., bringing together community leaders to identify meaningful strategies to prevent lead exposure while developing community-driven solutions. The goal is nothing less than a lead-free Indianapolis. Register to attend the Lead Summit.

To learn more about Lead-Free Indy, or to join the collaboration, contact leadsafe@marionhealth.org or cuh@iu.edu.