Wellpoint Care Network Preparing and Distributing Lead Safe Kits to Milwaukee Families this Summer

Wellpoint Care Network was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County to distribute 300 Lead Safe Home Kits to local residents.

“We knew that with the popularity and volume of events that we were hosting, that we would be able to distribute them quickly and efficiently and get them to people who need them the most,” said Alex Williams, Wellpoint Care Network Director of Community Engagement.

Each Lead Safe Home Kit includes a water filter pitcher specifically designed to filter out lead, two extra filters, plastic garbage bags, gloves, masks, baby wipes, duct tape, a Swiffer wet/dry mop kit and lead safety educational materials.

“We jumped at the opportunity to further tie ourselves to the community and put a focus on public health,” added Williams. “In our Five Pillars of Stability, we know that the Health pillar is very important. That means tailoring to both their mental health and their physical health. We want to ensure that young people are safe growing up.”

According to United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, paint, water and soil are the most common ways that people are exposed to lead:

“Children six years old and younger are most susceptible to the negative effects of lead. Lead can affect every organ and system in the body and lead to behavior and learning problems, anemia, slowed growth, hearing problems and hyperactivity. The most severe cases of lead poisoning can cause seizures, coma and death. Keys to addressing lead poisoning within our community include increased screening, education and lead abatement within the home including lead paint and soil mitigation. Community members can help reduce the risks of lead in their own homes when more intensive lead mitigation strategies are unavailable or delayed. Our Lead Safe Home Kits provide tools and educational materials to help.”

Thanks to several dedicated volunteers, 300 Lead Safe Home Kits are now assembled and ready for distribution.

“Volunteers are crucial to our work — we value and appreciate them,” said Williams. “We would not be able to do things at the volume or the magnitude we’re able to without our volunteers.”

Located on Milwaukee’s northwest side, a majority of those served by Wellpoint Care live in housing built prior to 1978 and likely containing lead-based paint and other sources of lead. Wellpoint Care Network’s Community Engagement team will now build on our ongoing community relationships to ensure the distribution of the Lead Safe Home Kits is efficient and impactful.

“We serve over 6,500 people a year here at Wellpoint Care Network and we will be working with our service delivery programs to make sure our families in need have access to the Lead Safe Home Kits,” said Williams. “We’ll also be taking them to community resource fairs that we attend or other events that we’re present at. And, then we will distribute as many kits as possible at our Back to School Bash. We are trying to create the best community and best environment that we can.”

To learn more about this initiative or to collaborate with Wellpoint Care Network on an upcoming project, please email [email protected].