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April 8, 2004
Dear Task Force and/or Subcommittee
Member:
There have been several inquiries from
Task Force members regarding the status of the Task Forces’ Report so
I thought we should update you. The report is in the final stages of
review within the Michigan Department of Community Health
and should
be forwarded to the Governor’s office in the next few weeks. We want
to be sure we forward a quality document (in terms of format and
presentation).
While the format of the report has
evolved since the last meeting of the Task Force, let me assure you
that the recommendations that you articulated are not being
compromised during this review process.
The priority recommendations identified
by the subcommittee chairs and departmental staff, based on the
discussions of the entire Task Force at the December 1, 2003 final
meeting, were sent to the Governor’s office in December to assure
their inclusion in budget discussions. Those priority recommendations
are:
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Develop and maintain a mandatory lead
status-housing registry for pre-1978 rental properties with a
voluntary component for post-1978 rental properties.
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Remediate/control lead hazards in
dwelling units.
-
Develop and conduct a major public
awareness campaign to assure that parents are aware of the dangers
of lead exposure.
-
Provide regional case managers for
children with elevated blood lead levels equal to or greater than 20
micrograms per deciliter.
-
Create capacity to assist Michigan
communities to build coalitions.
-
Establish a Public Health Trust.
-
Identify or establish an
entity/commission to evaluate and coordinate lead resources and
activities.
While these recommendations are the
priority “first steps”, all one hundred-plus recommendations made by
the Task Force and Subcommittees are included in the report.
The funding of the priority
recommendations, and any others that may be selected for
implementation by the Governor’s office, will likely depend upon the
passage of the increase in the tobacco tax. Your efforts to support
the passage of this increase will be crucial to move forward in
addressing the elimination of childhood lead poisoning.
Finally, let me thank you for your
excellent work toward the development of the Final Report. A copy of
the report will be shared with you as soon as it is released by the
Governor’s office.
Sincerely,
Douglas M. Paterson, Director
Bureau of Family, Maternal and Child
Health
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